Visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page to learn about:

• Eviction protections
• Free legal services through the Right to Counsel program
• Paying rent
• The City's Tenant Helpline

Court Operations

New York State courts are open and offering limited in-person assistance for health and safety reasons.

New York City Housing Court is currently open for emergency cases, including if you:

• Are locked out of your home without a court order
• Need emergency repairs
• Need critical services like heat or hot water 

You can start an emergency case online or by phone. Courthouses are open to people who need in-person assistance. 

For the most up-to-date information on court operations, check the Housing Court website.

For visitor screening and safety rules and other COVID-19 information, visit the NYCOURTS website. You can also call the Coronavirus Hotline at (833) 503-0447 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

If You Have Been Served With Papers

Tenants who have not yet answered a nonpayment petition filed against them must file an answer with the court. Failure to answer an eviction petition could lead to a default judgment against a tenant, which can lead to eviction. A tenant who receives a petition for a Housing Court eviction case does not need to go to the courthouse to respond in person.

If you have received an eviction petition or other Housing Court papers, HRA’s Office of Civil Justice can provide free legal services under the City’s Right-to-Counsel law to help you with your case. You can contact the City’s Tenant Helpline to connect with free legal services. For more information, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.

For help answering your case, you can call Housing Court Answers at (212) 962-4795.

You can also call Housing Court's emergency phone numbers daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Leave a message with your phone number and a court attorney will return your call.