{"id":16607,"date":"2022-12-09T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=16607"},"modified":"2022-12-09T15:01:24","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T20:01:24","slug":"repair-and-deduct-rent-in-nyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/repair-and-deduct-rent-in-nyc\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Repair and Deduct in NYC"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Sometimes a tenant will need to repair their apartment. It\u2019s inevitable. Sometimes the repairs are small, like a broken cabinet, and sometimes large, like a broken toilet or heating system. In either case, your landlord is supposed to be the one to fix it. However, your landlord might not always be around, so it\u2019s possible you\u2019ll have to pay out of pocket to have someone fix the issue for you. If this has ever happened to you, you might be familiar with the phrase \u201cRepair and Deduct.\u201d The regulations for this practice vary by location, so here are some things to know in New York City<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is \u201cRepair and Deduct?\u201d<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cRepair and Deduct\u201d is the common phrase for people who had to pay out-of-pocket for a home repair and ask their landlord to deduct the repair cost from their monthly rent. Normally, it\u2019s up to your landlord to make these repairs, but there are circumstances where they aren\u2019t available, so it’s reasonable to ask for a reduction in rent. This is, after all, an unexpected cost in your life. Keep in mind tenants usually require landlord approval for any repairs made to their home. If you\u2019ve communicated with your landlord about these repairs, you likely won\u2019t have to worry about repair and deduction issues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Does My Landlord Have to Accept a Repair and Deduct Request?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The answer to this is tricky and can depend on many factors. According to New York State Law, landlords are required to provide safe, livable housing to tenants. This means a living situation cannot be hazardous or detrimental to one\u2019s life, health, or safety. For example, if something happens to an apartment’s electricity, water, gas, or oil, the landlord is legally required to fix it. If the landlord has made reasonable efforts to make these repairs, but has fallen short, then tenants can hire professionals to make the repairs themselves and have the cost taken out of their monthly rent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Unfortunately, this is the only situation where landlords are legally obligated to accept a repair and deduct request. If a smaller, non-life-threatening request is made, like hiring a professional to fix a dishwasher, then the landlord can ignore the repair and deduct request and still charge you a full month\u2019s rent. Landlords cannot retaliate against you<\/a> for making such a request, but there are no laws that say a landlord has to reduce the rent in these scenarios.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Learn more:\r\n