Landlord Attorney for Long Island Property Owners
Evictions, nonpayment, holdovers, lease drafting, rent recovery. New York landlord-tenant law moves on short deadlines and punishes procedural mistakes. We protect property owners by getting it right the first time.
The Rules Changed. The Deadlines Are Short. The Paperwork Decides Who Wins.
A landlord attorney earns their keep on procedure, and it is a demanding corner of our real estate law practice. New York rewrote its landlord-tenant laws in 2019, and the cases that fail today usually fail on the mechanics: the wrong notice, served the wrong way, with the wrong number of days. Courts dismiss those cases without ever reaching who was right.
Sugarman Law protects landlords and property owners across Suffolk and Nassau County. Twenty years of these cases means we know the district courts, the judges' expectations, and which shortcuts get proceedings thrown out.
How We Protect Landlords
From one rental to a portfolio. Tap a card to see what we handle.
Problem Tenants
Nonpayment, holdovers, and lease violationsEvictions, Done Right the First Time
Nonpayment and holdover proceedings from the first notice through the warrant. The notice stage is where landlords lose; we serve the correct notice, the correct way, so the case survives court.
Rent Collection
Legal action to recover unpaid rent, pursued alongside or after the eviction, with judgments that can actually be enforced.
Lease Violations & Holdovers
Unauthorized occupants, pets, subletting, nuisance behavior, or a tenant who stays after the lease ends. We build the notice and the record a holdover case needs to succeed.
Protecting the Investment
Leases, acquisitions, and the problems before they startLeases That Hold Up
Drafting and updating residential leases that comply with current New York law: security deposit limits, notice requirements, fee restrictions. A lease written before 2019 is overdue for review.
Inherited or Purchased Tenants
Bought or inherited an occupied property? You inherited its leases too. We review what you are bound by and chart the lawful path to the outcome you want, whether that starts with a purchase or an estate.
Security Deposits Done Right
New York requires an itemized statement within 14 days after a tenant moves out. Miss it and you can lose the right to keep any of the deposit, even for real damage. We set up a process that protects your claim.
The Lawful Eviction, in Five Steps
Skip a step or botch the service and the case starts over. This is the path, and we run every leg of it.
Proper Notice
The legally required notice for your situation, served the way the statute demands. The make-or-break step.
File the Petition
After the notice period runs, we file the proceeding in the correct court with service done by the book.
The Hearing
We appear, present the case, and answer whatever defenses the tenant raises.
Judgment & Warrant
The court issues a judgment of possession and a warrant of eviction.
Sheriff Enforcement
Only the sheriff or marshal can remove a tenant. We coordinate the final step lawfully. Never self-help, ever.
Three Rules That Decide These Cases
Self-Help Is Illegal
Changing the locks, shutting off utilities, or removing a tenant's belongings without a court order exposes a landlord to serious liability, including damages payable to the tenant. However badly a tenant behaves, the only lawful path runs through the court and the sheriff.
Deadlines Decide These Cases
Landlords who serve defective notices start over from zero, months of lost rent later. In this practice area, the calendar is a weapon, and it belongs to whoever respects it.
Commercial Is a Different Game
Commercial tenancies live under different rules, with far fewer protections and everything driven by the lease itself. If your dispute involves retail, office, or industrial space, it connects directly to our commercial real estate practice.
Every month you wait is another month of lost rent. The earlier the correct notice goes out, the sooner you get your property back. Call 631-964-4418 today.
Representing landlords in the district courts across both counties: real estate attorney in Deer Park • Suffolk County • Nassau County
Landlord FAQ
What are the legal steps for evicting a tenant on Long Island?
Serve the correct notice for your situation, the correct way. When the notice period runs, file the proceeding in court, attend the hearing, obtain a judgment and warrant, and coordinate with the sheriff for enforcement. Each step has technical requirements, and a defect at step one gets the whole case dismissed. We handle every step so it does not get thrown out on procedure.
How do I make sure my lease agreement is legally sound?
Have it reviewed before you use it. New York's 2019 reforms changed the rules on deposits, notices, and fees, and leases written before then routinely contain unenforceable or illegal terms. A compliant lease that clearly covers rent, maintenance, and obligations prevents most disputes before they start.
How long does an eviction take on Long Island?
It depends on the type of case, whether the tenant answers or raises defenses, and the court's calendar. An uncontested nonpayment case moves faster than a contested holdover. The fastest path is always the correct one, because a defective notice sends you back to the start. We give you a realistic timeline for your situation at the outset.
My tenant stopped paying rent. Can I just change the locks?
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in New York and exposes you to liability, potentially owing damages to the very tenant who stopped paying. The lawful route is a nonpayment proceeding, and started promptly, it is also the fastest route to either your rent or your property back.
Tenant Problem? Get Ahead of the Deadlines.
The landlord who moves first with proper procedure usually wins. Call today to discuss your situation.
Tell Us About Your Situation
Nonpayment, holdover, lease, or rent question. Fill out the form and we will reach out to talk through your needs, or call 631-964-4418.