Bonding over a shared rental horror story is sorta our favorite NYC pastime at this point, but now you can finally take those grievances somewhere that actually matters.
New York City is finally giving us a formal place to air out all our collective landlord grievances. 😅
Starting today, February 26, the city is kicking off its first-ever series of “Rental Ripoff Hearings,” and it’s basically your chance to tell City Hall exactly what’s wrong with your building.
What are the Rental Ripoff Hearings?
Think of this as a massive, city-sanctioned venting session, but with people in the room who can actually change the laws.
Earlier this year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order to create these hearings so the city can gather real-world data on how New Yorkers are being squeezed.
Instead of just shouting into the void (or your roommate’s ear), you can show up and testify about everything from those “junk fees” that appear out of nowhere to the repair requests that have been “pending” since 2023.
When and where can I go?
The very first hearing is happening TODAY in Downtown Brooklyn, but don’t worry if you can’t make it to this one.
They are hitting every single borough over the next few weeks, and you can attend any of them regardless of where you actually live!
Here is the full schedule so you can mark your calendar:
- Brooklyn: Downtown Brooklyn – February 26 (Today! from 5:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Queens: Long Island City – March 5 (5:30 – 8:30 pm)
- The Bronx: Fordham – March 11 (5:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Manhattan: East Harlem – March 28 (11 am – 5 pm)
- Staten Island: North Shore – April 7 (5:30 – 8:30 pm)
Most of these are happening in the evening from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm to make it easier for the 9-to-5 crowd to show up.
So…what can you actually complain about?
The city is looking for specific “ripoffs” to help inform new housing policies.
If you’ve dealt with any of the following, they want to hear from you:
- Junk Fees: Application fees over the $20 limit, “amenity fees” for a gym that’s been closed for a year, or weird administrative charges.
- Condition Issues: Mold, lead paint, lack of heat/hot water, or elevators that are perpetually “out of service.”
- Security Deposit Drama: Landlords refusing to give your money back or charging way more than one month’s rent upfront.
- Hidden stabilized units: We already know how to check if your apartment is rent-stabilized, but if your landlord is hiding that fact, the city wants to know.
How to participate
You do need to register ahead of time if you want to speak, which you can do at rentalripoff.nyc.gov.
If you’re shy about speaking in front of a crowd, you can also meet one-on-one with city officials or record your testimony privately at the event.
Even if your landlord isn’t currently on the NYC “Worst Landlord” Watchlist, your story helps the city build a case for stricter tenant protections across the board.
If you can’t make it in person today, you can also submit your story through their online signup form to make sure your experience is part of the official report coming out later this year!