What's happening
This bill allows tenants to file small claims related to their tenancy against landlords in the court where the rental property is located, even if the landlord does not reside or do business there.
Why it matters
Improves tenant access to justice. The bill makes it significantly easier for tenants to bring small claims against landlords by allowing them to file in the court where the property is located, regardless of where the landlord lives or does business. This reduces a major barrier for tenants seeking to recover security deposits or address other disputes.
Closes loopholes used by absentee or corporate landlords. Currently, landlords who live out-of-county or operate through entities in other jurisdictions can avoid being sued in the tenant’s local court. This bill removes that shield, making landlords more accountable for their actions related to properties they own.
Standardizes notification process for landlords. The amendments clarify how notice of claims can be delivered to landlords in these cases, including mailing to any address where rent is paid and to the property itself. This ensures landlords can’t easily evade notice simply by being out of reach.
Potential for quicker and fairer resolutions. By allowing local courts to hear tenant claims, cases can be resolved more swiftly, reducing the time and travel burden on tenants and encouraging landlords to resolve disputes rather than stonewalling or delaying.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Let Tenants Sue Landlords Locally
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Committee discharged and committed to judiciary
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Easier Tenant Small Claims
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3316
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, BAILEY, HOYLMAN, PERKINS, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the uniform city court act, the uniform district court act, the uniform justice court act and the New York city civil court act, in relation to obtaining jurisdiction over certain defendants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1801 of the uniform city court act, as amended by chapter 65 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows: § 1801. Small claims defined.
The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of five thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, or any action commenced by a party aggrieved by an arbitration award rendered pursuant to part 137 of the rules of the chief administrator of the courts (22 NYCRR Part 137) in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000, provided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction of business or a regular employment[,] within the county, or where the claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and such real property is situated within the county.
§ 2. Subdivision (a) of section 1803 of the uniform city court act, as amended by chapter 309 of the laws of 1996, the opening paragraph as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 686 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Small claims shall be commenced upon the payment by the claimant of a filing fee of fifteen dollars for claims in the amount of one thousand dollars or less and twenty dollars for claims in the amount of more than one thousand dollars, without the service of a summons and, except by special order of the court, without the service of any pleading other
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02689-01-7
S. 3316 2
than a statement of his cause of action by the claimant or someone in his behalf to the clerk, who shall reduce the same to a concise, written form and record it in a docket kept especially for such purpose. Such procedure shall provide for the sending of notice of such claim by ordinary first class mail and certified mail with return receipt requested to the party complained against (1) at his residence, if he resides within the county, and his residence is known to the claimant, or (2) at his office or place of regular employment within the county if he does not reside therein or his residence within the county is not known to the claimant, or (3) where the claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease and the notice of claim cannot be sent under paragraph one or two of this subdivision, at any place in the county or an adjoining county where claimant may mail or otherwise deliver rent and at such real property. If, after the expiration of twenty-one days, such ordinary first class mailing has not been returned as undeliverable, the party complained against shall be presumed to have received notice of such claim. Such notice shall include a clear description of the procedure for filing a counterclaim, pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section.
Such procedure shall further provide for an early hearing upon and determination of such claim. No filing fee, however, shall be demanded or received on small claims of employees who shall comply with § 1912 of this act which is hereby made applicable, except that necessary mailing costs shall be paid.
§ 3. Section 1801 of the uniform district court act, as amended by chapter 65 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows: § 1801. Small claims defined.
The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of five thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, or any action commenced by a party aggrieved by an arbitration award rendered pursuant to part one hundred thirty-seven of the rules of the chief administrator of the courts (22 NYCRR Part 137) in which the amount in dispute does not exceed five thousand dollars, provided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction of business or a regular employment[,] within a district of the court in the county, or where the claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and such real property is situated within a district of the court in the county.
§ 4. Subdivision (a) of section 1803 of the uniform district court act, as amended by section 31 of part J of chapter 62 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Small claims shall be commenced upon the payment by the claimant of a filing fee of fifteen dollars for claims in the amount of one thousand dollars or less and twenty dollars for claims in the amount of more than one thousand dollars, without the service of a summons and, except by special order of the court, without the service of any pleading other than a statement of his cause of action by the claimant or someone in his behalf to the clerk, who shall reduce the same to a concise, written form and record it in a docket kept especially for such purpose. Such procedure shall provide for the sending of notice of such claim by ordinary first class mail and certified mail with return receipt requested to the party complained against (1) at his residence, if he resides within a district of the court in the county, and his residence is known to the claimant, or (2) at his office or place of regular employment
S. 3316 3
within such a district if he does not reside therein or his residence within such a district is not known to the claimant, or (3) where claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease and the notice of claim cannot be sent under paragraph one or two of this subdivision, at any place in the state where claimant may mail or otherwise deliver rent and at such real property. If, after the expiration of twenty-one days, such ordinary first class mailing has not been returned as undeliverable, the party complained against shall be presumed to have received notice of such claim. Such notice shall include a clear description of the procedure for filing a counterclaim, pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section.
Such procedure shall further provide for an early hearing upon and determination of such claim. No filing fee, however, shall be demanded or received on small claims of employees who shall comply with § 1912 (a) of this act which is hereby made applicable, except that necessary mailing costs shall be paid.
§ 5. Section 1801 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chapter 76 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows: § 1801. Small claims defined.
The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of three thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, provided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction of business or a regular employment[,] within the municipality where the court is located, or where claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and such real property is situated within the municipality where the court is located. However, where a judge of the county court, pursuant to subdivision (g) of section three hundred twenty-five of the civil practice law and rules, transfers a small claim from the town or village court having jurisdiction over the matter to another town or village court within the same county, the court to which it is transferred shall have jurisdiction to determine the claim.
§ 6. Subdivision (a) of section 1803 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chapter 309 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Small claims shall be commenced upon the payment by the claimant of a filing fee of ten dollars for claims in the amount of one thousand dollars or less and fifteen dollars for claims in the amount of more than one thousand dollars, without the service of a summons and, except by special order of the court, without the service of any pleading other than a statement of his cause of action by the claimant or someone in his behalf to the clerk, who shall reduce the same to a concise, written form and record it in a filing system maintained especially for such purpose. Such procedure shall provide for the sending of notice of such claim by ordinary first class mail and certified mail with return receipt requested to the party complained against (1) at his residence, if he resides within the county and his residence is known to the claimant, or (2) at his office or place of regular employment within the municipality if he does not reside within the county or his residence within the county is not known to the claimant, or (3) where claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease and the notice of claim cannot be sent under paragraph one or two of this subdivision, at any place in the county or an adjoining county where claimant may mail or
S. 3316 4
otherwise deliver rent and at such real property. If, after the expiration of twenty-one days, such ordinary first class mailing has not been returned as undeliverable, the party complained against shall be presumed to have received notice of such claim. Such notice shall include a clear description of the procedure for filing a counterclaim, pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section.
Such procedure shall further provide for an early hearing upon and determination of such claim. No filing fee, however, shall be demanded or received on small claims of employees who shall comply with section nineteen hundred twelve of this act which is hereby made applicable, except that necessary mailing costs shall be paid.
§ 7. Section 1801 of the New York city civil court act, as amended by chapter 65 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1801. Small claims defined. The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of five thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, or any action commenced by a party aggrieved by an arbitration award rendered pursuant to part 137 of the rules of the chief administrator of the courts (22 NYCRR Part 137) in which the amount in dispute does not exceed five thousand dollars, provided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction of business or a regular employment[,] within the city of New York, or where claimant is a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and such real property is situated within the city of New York.
§ 8. Subdivision (a) of section 1803 of the New York city civil court act, as amended by section 34 of part J of chapter 62 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Small claims shall be commenced upon the payment by the claimant of a filing fee of fifteen dollars for claims in the amount of one thousand dollars or less and twenty dollars for claims in the amount of more than one thousand dollars, without the service of a summons and, except by special order of the court, without the service of any pleading other than a statement of his cause of action by the claimant or someone in his behalf to the clerk, who shall reduce the same to a concise, written form and record it in a docket kept especially for such purpose. Such procedure shall provide for the sending of notice of such claim by ordinary first class mail and certified mail with return receipt requested to the party complained against (1) at his residence, if he resides within the city of New York, and his residence is known to the claimant, or (2) at his office or place of regular employment within the city of New York if he does not reside therein or his residence within the city of New York is not known to the claimant, or (3) where claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease and the notice of claim cannot be sent under paragraph one or two of this subdivision, at any place in the state where plaintiff may mail or otherwise deliver rent and at such real property. If, after the expiration of twenty-one days, such ordinary first class mailing has not been returned as undeliverable, the party complained against shall be presumed to have received notice of such claim. Such notice shall include a clear description of the procedure for filing a counterclaim, pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section.
Such procedure shall further provide for an early hearing upon and determination of such claim. No filing fee, however, shall be demanded or received on small claims of employees who shall comply with § 1912
S. 3316 5
(a) of this act which is hereby made applicable, except that necessary mailing costs shall be paid.
§ 9. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the uniform city court act, the uniform district court act, the uniform justice court act and the New York city civil court act, in relation to obtaining jurisdiction over certain defendants
Purpose or general idea of bill
To permit residential tenants fair access to the small claims courts by letting them sue in the small claims court located in the area that the rental unit is located.
Summary of specific provisions
Makes provisions for small claims court jurisdiction when the claimant is or was a tenant or lessee, the defendant is the property owner, the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and the property is situated within the county.
Justification
Current law places an unfair burden on the tenant in terms of the return of their security deposit or other claims, which requires that tenants file a claim in the jurisdiction where the landlord's business is located. In SOLOMON V. CORRELL, the judge invites the Legislature to address this problem.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
On the first of September next succeeding the date it becomes law, with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.