Can a domestic violence victim end a lease early in New York?

In New York, a tenant who is, or has a household member who is, a victim of domestic violence and reasonably fears remaining may end the lease by written notice naming a termination date at least 30 days after delivery, then give documentation within 25 days. The notice must state that the tenant or a household member has experienced domestic violence and reasonably believes they cannot safely remain, and a notice sent by first class mail is deemed delivered five days after mailing. Documentation may include a temporary or final order of protection, a law enforcement record, complaint or report, a health care provider’s record, or a written verification from a qualified third party such as a police officer, court employee, attorney, licensed clinician, domestic violence agency worker or member of the clergy. The tenant pays prorated rent up to the termination date, is not liable for rent after it, and is entitled to a refund of prepaid rent for the later period within ten days of delivering the notice, as long as the tenant has vacated. The landlord may not withhold any part of the security deposit because the tenant used this right. Information obtained in the process must be kept confidential, and the landlord may not describe the termination as an early termination to a prospective landlord or any third party. Where other tenants are on the lease, the landlord may not terminate or sever the co-tenancy without their consent and must give them at least thirty days from the termination date to decide. A landlord who knowingly or intentionally violates the section may be liable for liquidated damages of up to one thousand dollars, actual damages, costs and attorneys’ fees, and a lease waiver of these rights is void. This is N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-c.

WhatNew York
Ending the lease early30 days’ notice, proof of abuse within 25 days

What the statute says

“The notice shall specify the termination date which shall be no earlier than thirty days after such notice is delivered. If the notice is mailed via first class mail, it shall be deemed delivered five days after mailing.”

Quoted word for word from the section’s text.

Source

N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-c

Read the statute in the New York Consolidated Laws (New York State Senate): nysenate.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.

Guides on this rule

Compare this rule in every state

More New York rules

The same question in other states

Related