Long Island Landlord-Tenant Cases Follow Local Filing Rules

Nassau County District Court handles landlord-tenant proceedings countywide. In Glen Cove or Long Beach, landlords may also file in City Court. Check the municipality before submitting papers.

District Courts serve Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown. East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Southold generally use Town or Village Justice Courts. Some villages lack courts, so verify the clerk and schedule.

Outside New York City, residential cases require designated forms, including UCS-LTN1 for nonpayment and UCS-LTH1 for holdovers. Since August 3, 2026, Suffolk District Court landlord-tenant actions have used the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF). Confirm filing requirements with the selected court; eastern Town and Village Courts follow their own procedures.

RPAPL § 711(2) generally requires a written 14-day demand for rent or possession before a nonpayment proceeding. RPL § 235-e(d) separately requires certified-mail notice if rent is not received within five days after its due date; omission may support a defense. The 14-day demand must also include the applicable notice under RPL § 231-c. Compare the amount demanded with receipts and the rent ledger.

Holdovers require a legal ground. Under Real Property Law (RPL) § 226-c, nonrenewals and proposed increases of at least 5% generally require 30, 60, or 90 days' notice based on occupancy or lease length, with exceptions. Lease expiration alone may not permit termination of a regulated tenancy.

Preliminary notices differ from the Notice of Petition and Petition filed with the court. RPAPL § 735 allows personal delivery or specified alternatives, but alternative service requires additional mailings. Retain service affidavits, mailing receipts, and dated copies; improper service may affect the proceeding.

The Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) operates in adopting municipalities, including Glen Cove, Long Beach, North Hempstead, and several villages. Coverage is not automatic for every unit. Building age, unit count, exemptions, and registration history matter. New York State Homes and Community Renewal maintains rent records.

Outside New York City, RPL § 213 requires municipal adoption of Good Cause Eviction. Some units remain exempt. Check the municipality's current law, building characteristics, and any required coverage notice; do not assume the entire county is covered. The Good Cause Eviction Law resource explains qualifying grounds.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics, including race, disability, and familial status. New York State's Human Rights Law also protects lawful sources of income, subject to exceptions. Complaints may belong with HUD or the New York State Division of Human Rights rather than in an eviction petition.

Preserve signed agreements, renewals, rent receipts, bank records, and messages about charges. RPL § 235-e requires receipts for cash and certain other payments. Compare each rent period with the ledger and credited payments before a nonpayment hearing.

RPL § 235-b provides an implied warranty of habitability in residential tenancies. Serious unsafe conditions may support a claim or defense, depending on their cause and extent. Preserve photographs, repair requests, inspection findings, and responses; tenant-caused conditions are treated differently.

For covered units, General Obligations Law § 7-108 generally requires an itemized deduction statement and return of the remaining deposit within 14 days after the tenant vacates. Ordinary wear is not deductible. Special rules and exemptions, including for qualifying seasonal rentals, require separate review. Retain inspection reports and invoices; see the security deposit law resource for detail.

The Notice of Petition identifies the court date. Tenants may challenge rent calculations, defective notices, improper service, or a claimed exemption from regulation. Landlords should bring supporting records. Missing an appearance can result in a default judgment; adjournment requests follow local court rules.

Under RPAPL § 749, an authorized officer generally must give at least 14 days' written notice before executing a warrant of eviction. Courts may stay or vacate warrants when the law permits. RPAPL § 768 prohibits certain lockouts, property removals, and interruptions of essential services intended to force protected occupants out.

Check the municipality, court, ground for possession, and notice dates. Confirm whether rent regulation applies and whether the matter is only at the demand stage, already filed, or subject to a warrant. These distinctions guide the next lawful step for landlords and tenants.