Landlord Tenant Attorney for Long Island Property Owners and Renters
Evictions, lease disputes, nonpayment, habitability, security deposits. New York landlord-tenant law moves on short deadlines and punishes procedural mistakes. We handle it correctly, for whichever side of the lease you are on.
The Rules Changed. The Deadlines Are Short. The Paperwork Decides Who Wins.
A landlord tenant 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 represents both landlords and tenants across Suffolk and Nassau County, never both sides of the same dispute. Twenty years of these cases means we know the district courts, the judges' expectations, and which shortcuts get proceedings thrown out.
Which Side of the Lease Are You On?
Tap your side to see exactly what we handle for you.
I'm a Landlord
Property owners, from one rental to a portfolioEvictions, 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.
Leases 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.
I'm a Tenant
Renters facing eviction, bad conditions, or lost depositsEviction Defense
An eviction notice starts a clock, and ignoring it ends in a default judgment. We review whether the landlord followed procedure, raise every defense you have, and represent you in court.
Habitability Problems
No heat, leaks, pests, unsafe conditions. New York guarantees you a livable home. We push landlords to repair, and take legal action when they refuse.
Security Deposit Recovery
Your deposit must come back within 14 days of moving out, with an itemized statement for any deductions. Landlords who miss that window forfeit their right to keep any of it. We enforce that.
Lease Review Before You Sign
A half-hour review before signing costs little and catches illegal clauses, junk fees, and traps you would otherwise live with for a year or more.
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 Cut Both Ways
Tenants who ignore court papers default. 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.
Do not wait out the notice period hoping it resolves itself. The deadlines inside it are real, and the earlier we see it, the more options you have. Call 631-964-4418 today.
Handling landlord-tenant matters in the district courts across both counties: real estate attorney in Deer Park • Suffolk County • Nassau County
Landlord Tenant 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.
I received an eviction notice. What should I do?
Do not ignore it. The deadlines inside are short, and missing them can mean a default judgment against you. Bring it to us quickly: we check whether your landlord followed the required procedures, identify your defenses, and represent you in court if the eviction is defective or unlawful.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit?
Under New York law, your deposit must be returned within 14 days after you vacate, with an itemized statement for anything withheld. A landlord who blows that deadline forfeits the right to keep any portion of it. We pursue deposits that are late, short, or withheld on invented damages.
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.
Do you represent landlords or tenants?
Both, though never both sides of the same dispute. Working each side of these cases for two decades means we know the other side's playbook before they open it.
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.
Lease Dispute Brewing? Get Ahead of the Deadlines.
Landlord or tenant, the side that moves first with proper procedure usually wins. The consultation is free.
Tell Us About Your Situation
Eviction, nonpayment, deposit, or lease question. Fill out the form and we will reach out to schedule your free consultation, or call 631-964-4418.