NYC Right to Counsel: How to Get a Free Eviction Lawyer (2026-27)
Five words can change how an eviction case goes: "I would like an attorney." Here is who gets a free lawyer in NYC Housing Court, who to call first, and what to bring.
AT A GLANCE
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New York City's Right to Counsel program, also called Universal Access to Legal Services, puts free lawyers in Housing Court. The City's Human Resources Administration (HRA) tells tenants to ask for one at their first court appearance.
This guide is built from official City pages, Local Law 136 of 2017, the HHS poverty guidelines and the Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) Annual Report for 2025.
What the law guarantees
Right to Counsel comes from Local Law 136 of 2017, now in sections 26-1301 and 26-1302 of the NYC Administrative Code. A few defined terms decide what you can get.
Term in the law | What it means for you |
|---|---|
Covered proceeding | A Housing Court eviction case (nonpayment or holdover), or a NYCHA proceeding to terminate a tenancy |
Brief legal assistance | Individual help from a designated nonprofit in a single consultation |
Full legal representation | A lawyer who files an appearance and handles the whole case |
Income-eligible | Annual gross household income at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines |
The law set a deadline of July 31, 2022 for citywide access, subject to funding. Help is due by your first scheduled court appearance, or as soon as practicable after it.
The City's own advice is simple: at your first court appearance, say "I would like an attorney."
Do you qualify for a full lawyer?
The test is 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, using annual gross household income. We doubled the 2026 HHS figures for the 48 contiguous states ourselves.
Household size | 2026 poverty guideline | 200% limit (annual gross) |
|---|---|---|
1 | $15,960 | $31,920 |
2 | $21,640 | $43,280 |
3 | $27,320 | $54,640 |
4 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
5 | $38,680 | $77,360 |
6 | $44,360 | $88,720 |
7 | $50,040 | $100,080 |
8 | $55,720 | $111,440 |
For each person beyond eight, add $11,360 at the 200% level. The provider screens with whatever guideline year applies, so treat this as a guide.
Over the limit? Go to court anyway. Every covered tenant can still get brief legal assistance.
Which cases are covered
Situation | Covered? |
|---|---|
Nonpayment eviction case in Housing Court | Yes |
Holdover eviction case in Housing Court | Yes |
NYCHA proceeding to terminate your tenancy | Yes |
Any ZIP code, any immigration status | Yes, per HRA |
HRA also urges tenants to call about Motions to Restore or Enforce, a Warrant of Eviction, an illegal lockout or serious repair problems. Not all of these are covered proceedings, but the City still points you to its tenant legal services.
How to get a lawyer, step by step
Act the day papers arrive. Start calling as soon as you get a petition, notice of petition or NYCHA charges. The earlier a lawyer sees them, the more options you have.
Call before court. Housing Court Answers: 718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Or call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.
Email OCJ if you can't connect. Write to civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov with your name, phone number and court index number.
Say it in court. "I would like an attorney." A designated provider then screens you for brief help or full representation.
Call your borough's Housing Court if you need the clerk (numbers below).
Housing Court | Phone |
|---|---|
Bronx | 718-466-3025 |
Brooklyn | 347-404-9201 |
Red Hook (Brooklyn) | 718-923-8270 |
Manhattan | 646-386-5500 |
Harlem | 212-360-4113 |
Queens | 718-262-7145 |
Staten Island | 718-675-8452 |
Before you call
The City publishes no single document list, but the income test and OCJ's instructions show what a lawyer will need.
☐ Court papers: petition, notice of petition, NYCHA charges, any warrant or marshal's notice
☐ Your index number (on Housing Court papers; OCJ asks for it)
☐ Proof of gross income for everyone in the household: pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns
☐ Lease, rent receipts and landlord letters
☐ Photos and records of repair problems, if conditions are part of the dispute
☐ A working phone number the provider can reach
If you're told you don't qualify
Ask for brief legal assistance. It is available to every covered tenant, whatever the income.
Check the case type. If it isn't a Housing Court eviction or NYCHA termination, ask Housing Court Answers or 311 where to go.
Recheck the math. If income recently dropped or someone moved out, tell the screener.
Keep going to court. Never miss a date while you look for a lawyer.
Scam warning: OCJ says City-funded attorneys will never ask for payment. Report anyone who does to civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov.
How much the program is used
In fiscal year 2025, OCJ-administered tenant legal services helped over 110,000 people in 51,000 households, an all-time high. Providers gave full representation to over 22,700 households.
In the fourth quarter of FY25, 44% of tenants who appeared in eviction cases had full legal representation. That figure includes some lawyers outside the City-funded program.
Key contacts
Who | How to reach them |
|---|---|
Housing Court Answers | 718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm |
NYC Tenant Helpline | Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline |
Office of Civil Justice | civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov (name, phone, index number) |
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in New York City
Find more local guides on rent, utilities, housing and legal help at our New York Financial Help Guides hub.
Related guides
Official sources
Last checked: October 22, 2026 (HRA phone numbers and instructions re-verified on the official page).
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Programs and phone numbers can change, so confirm with HRA or 311 before you rely on any detail.
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