Free New York Rental Application Form - Fill Online, Sign & Download the PDF

New York rental application rules to know

• •Application fees are capped at the actual cost of the background or credit check, and never more than $20 total (Real Property Law § 238-a). No separate processing fees are allowed.
• •The fee must be waived entirely if you provide your own background or credit report from the past 30 days.
• •Landlords can't collect the fee without giving you both a copy of the report itself and the invoice or receipt from the screening company.
• •Security deposits are capped at one month's rent, and must be returned within 14 days of moving out with an itemized statement. Missing that deadline forfeits the landlord's right to keep any of it (General Obligations Law § 7-108).
• •Late fees are prohibited until rent is at least 5 days late, then capped at $50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is less.
• •Lawful source of income is protected under state law and, separately, under the New York City Human Rights Law. A March 2026 appellate ruling struck down the state law's Section 8 mandate and the Attorney General's appeal is pending: in New York City refusing vouchers remains clearly illegal under city law, while outside the city enforcement of the state Section 8 rule is uncertain until the Court of Appeals rules. Protection for other lawful income (wages, benefits, child support) is unaffected.
• •New York City's Fair Chance for Housing Act (effective 2025) bars criminal-history questions until after a conditional offer, and the statewide Clean Slate Act seals many older convictions.
• •Protected classes also include creed, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, age, marital status, and domestic-violence victim status.

Last reviewed 2026-07-15. General information, not legal advice.