Homeowner Tips
New York Renter Pest Rights: What Your Landlord Owes You
Published 10/14/2025 · 6 min read
Bed bugs, roaches, and rodents in a rental — what New York law actually says.
The warranty of habitability
Every residential lease in New York carries an implied warranty of habitability. Persistent pest infestations that make a unit unfit are a violation.
Bed bugs specifically
New York requires landlords to disclose the bed bug history of a rental for the past year. Treatment cost is the landlord's responsibility unless the tenant introduced them.
How to document a problem
Photograph and date every sighting. Report in writing (email counts). Keep every response. If your landlord won't act, request an inspection from your local code enforcement office.