Tenants' Rights & Resources

Welcome Letter from Mayor Carmella R. Mantello


Dear neighbor,

If you’re new to the neighborhood, let me be the first to welcome you to the City of Troy!

Troy is home to vibrant investment, a growing small-business economy, world-renowned universities and so much more.

Many of our residents live in apartments, which is why we have put together this landing page to make sure you know your rights as a tenant, what resources are available to you as a City of Troy resident, and what you can do should anything go wrong.

The City’s Bureau of Code Enforcement is an important resource for homeowners and tenants alike, and I encourage you to reach out to them about unsafe living conditions. Tips and complaints sent to Code Enforcement are anonymous, and the name of the person who reports infractions is never recorded on Code violation documents in an effort to protect you against illegal retaliatory action.

This page also includes referrals to external organizations able to do things a city government cannot, such as providing legal advice, emergency housing, violence interruption services and more.

In Troy, we take care of each other. Share these resources with anyone in need and together, we can build a more secure tenant community.

Sincerely,

Mayor Carmella R. Mantello

Code Enforcement Can Help

ANONYMOUS TIPLINE: 518-270-4404

Printable Pamphlet of Tenants' Rights and Resources Can Be Found HERE

As a renter in the City of Troy, the Bureau of Code Enforcement can help ensure your right to:

  • A clean and sanitary apartment;
  • Adequate heat (at least 70°F) between September 15 and May 31;
  • Insect screening on your windows between May 15 and September 15;
  • Hot water;
  • Functioning utilities;
  • Privacy. Your landlord may not enter your apartment without at least 24 hours prior notice;
  • A roof that does not leak;
  • No exposed wiring;
  • No holes in walls (interior nor exterior);
  • No vermin, which includes insects and rodents;
  • Not be locked out of your apartment without a court order.

If you are locked out illegally or your landlord enters without the right to, we recommend calling the Troy Police Department at (518) 270-4411 before reaching out to the Bureau of Code Enforcement. 

Legal Concerns

From time to time, we are approached with legal questions. As a city government, we are not able to provide legal advice nor opinions on any course of action you may wish to take.

However, resources do exist to help. If you have experienced any of the following:

  • Discrimination by your landlord;
  • Discrimination while looking for an apartment;
  • Physical or verbal harassment;
  • Retaliation for reporting your landlord to Code Enforcement or another authority;
  • Failure to receive your security deposit back within 30 days with an itemized list of deductions;
  • An increase in rent during the term of your lease;

or any other infraction of your rights, you may wish to seek legal counsel, and/or contact:

NYS Attorney General Letitia James
Hotline: (800) 771-7755 | ag.ny.gov

NYS Divisions of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR)
Rent Administration: (833) 499-0343 | hcr.ny.gov
Tenant Protection Unit: tpuinfor@nyshcr.org

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY
(833) 628-0087 | lasnny.org

Law Help NY: Tennant and homeowner rights
https://www.lawhelpny.org/issues/housing

More Resources

Additional community groups and government organizations may be able to help should you need assistance beyond the purview of Troy Code Enforcement:

Call, text or chat 9-8-8
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Housing concerns can be incredibly destabilizing; if you are experiencing a crisis, free and confidential support is always available.
dial 988 | chat 988
988lifeline.org

The Troy Police Department
Emergency: dial 911
Non-Emergency: (518) 270-4411
Community Police: (518) 270-4689
Animal Control: (518) 270-4411

United Tenants of Albany
(518) 436-8997 | Housing Hotline: ext.3
utalbany.org | info@unitedtenantsalbany.org

Disability Rights New York
Phone: (518) 432-7861 | Toll Free: (800) 993-8982
drny.org | mail@DRNY.org

Family Promise of Capital Region
(518) 650-8895
familypromisecr.org | sherrick@familypromisecr.org

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(202) 708-1112 | hud.gov/states/new_york/renting/tenantrights 

NYS Attorney General Letitia James’ Tenants’ Rights Guide
English: ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/tenants_rights.pdf
Español: ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/tenants_rights_spanish.pdf 

Rensselaer County Department of Social Services (DSS)
(518) 833-6000 | rensco.com/232/Social-Services 

Rensselaer County Department of Temporary Assistance
Temporary assistance is designed to provide low-income households with assistance in meeting needs such as evictions, utility disconnections, emergency fuel needs and homelessness, without receiving public assistance on a full time basis.
(518) 266-7800 | rensco.com/358/Temporary-Assistance

Rensselaer County Department of Public Health
(518) 270-2655 | rensco.com/241/Public-Health

New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance
otda.ny.gov
Rensselaer County HEAP contacts

Women's Employment & Resource Center (WERC)
120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180
(518) 225-3131
cdwerc.org | bmiller@cdwerc.org

Emergency Resources

In the event that you are without housing, experiencing violence of any kind, or facing another kind of emergency, resources are available. Do not suffer alone:

The Troy Police Department 
Emergency: dial 911

Call, text or chat 9-8-8
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Housing concerns can be incredibly destabilizing; if you are experiencing a crisis, free and confidential support is always available.
dial 988 | chat 988
988lifeline.org

Unity House of Troy
Mission Statement: Unity House is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people living in poverty, adults with mental illness, victims of domestic violence, children with developmental delays and their families, people living with HIV/AIDS, and others whose needs can effectively be met by Unity House services and philosophy. Unity House provides direct service and works toward social justice. We help individuals identify their strengths and needs, draw upon their abilities, and access community resources. We educate, collaborate with others and advocate to influence public policy and to create awareness of the people we serve and the issues they face.
2431 Sixth Avenue, Troy, New York 12180
(518) 274-2607
unityhouseny.org

Joseph’s House and Shelter
Founded in 1983, Joseph’s House and Shelter, Inc. is a community-based, not for profit corporation that provides a continuum of homeless services to residents of the Capital Region. Joseph’s House offers emergency shelter, street outreach, and support services to homeless and formerly homeless individuals, youth, and families. We offer non-judgmental services where each guest’s dignity and worth are recognized and respected. Our mission is to provide non-judgmental services to end homelessness. Our vision is for a community where everyone has safe and affordable housing.
74 Ferry Street Troy, NY 12180
(518) 272-2544 
josephshousetroy.org | info@josephshousetroy.org

YWCA of the Greater Capital Region
YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Women come to YWCA-GCR in times of crisis, for safe and affordable housing, help with basic needs, such as food and clothing, victim advocacy, help with addiction, job training and career counseling, and case management. Some stay for just a few weeks, some for many years. We give women and women with children a second chance and a fresh start, by providing transitional and permanent housing combined with 360° of Support in order to empower them to be able to achieve their goals and to become self-sufficient. YWCA-GCR staff can coordinate a variety of supportive services, such as financial literacy, job readiness training, education development and TASC preparation, clothing, food and make referrals for mental health, chemical addiction treatment, and advocacy.
21 First Street, Troy, NY 12180
(518) 274-7100
ywca-gcr.org | info@ywca-gcr.org 

St. Peter's Crime Victim Services, St. Peter's Health Partners
24-Hour Services
Confidential Hotline – (518) 271-3257 - Callers can receive brief counseling to share feelings or provide help grounding after a nightmare or flashback, assistance in safety planning, in-person legal advocacy for filing family offense petitions (during business hours) and filing initial police reports with law enforcement. 

Forensic Exams – Survivors can access services from a forensic examiner 24/7 at Samaritan Hospital, Albany Memorial Campus, and St. Peter’s Hospital emergency departments (EDs), including trauma-informed medical care and forensic evidence collection. Forensic examiners work closely with victim advocates in the EDs to ensure survivors are provided information and support in the aftermath of crime. 

Weekday Services
Contact our confidential intake line at 518-271-3410 or email ALHSSACVAPIntake@sphp.com

Schedule an intake for continuing care services – including counseling/therapy; legal advocacy in criminal, civil, and family courts; support groups; and assistance applying for financial compensation from the New York State Office of Victim Services. If you reach out by phone or email, please be sure to provide your name, a safe phone number to reach you, and the best times of day for us to call.
2215 Burdett Avenue, Troy, NY 12180
sphp.com 

In Our Own Voices
It is the Mission of In Our Own Voices to work for and ensure the physical, mental, spiritual, political, cultural and economic survival and growth of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people of color communities. In Our Own Voices provides, among many other things, human services casework and anti-violence mediation services.
245 Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210
(518) 432-4188
ioov.org | info@inourownvoices.org