Tenants’ Rights Mutual Walk-In Clinic
Met Council on Housing offers free roundtable clinics where tenants can share knowledge, support one another, and learn about their rights. Our clinics operate on principles of mutual aid, encouraging tenants to collaborate and strengthen their communities.
Before You Attend:
- Check our website’s Help & Answers section or call our Tenants’ Rights Telephone Hotline first. Most questions can be answered there.
- Each attendee gets about 10 minutes to discuss their question.
- Clinics are open and collaborative—everyone sits in a circle. Others will hear your housing issues, and sensitive details (like exact rent amounts) can be shared discreetly with the volunteer.
- We encourage tenants to stay after their session to offer support, share experiences, and learn from others—building a network of mutual aid.
- If you need private guidance, please use our hotline.
What We Do:
- Provide brief explanations of tenants’ rights and options for handling housing issues.
- Help tenants understand how to advocate for themselves and support one another.
- Common topics include:
- Repairs from negligent landlords
- Adequate heat during winter
- Threats of eviction
- Lease and lease renewal questions
- Legal rent increases for rent-regulated apartments
- Offer referrals to agencies, community groups, or tenant lawyers (free or private practice).
What We Don’t Do:
- Legal advice: Volunteers are trained on tenant laws, but are not lawyers. We explain rights and options but do not advise on legal strategy. For legal assistance, see our finding a lawyer page.
- Financial aid: We do not provide rental assistance or help with back rent. For financial help, see our can’t afford rent fact sheet.
- Advocacy on your behalf: We do not act directly with city or state agencies. We guide tenants to organize and advocate collectively, strengthening mutual aid efforts.
- Housing placement: We do not locate or provide new housing. See our website for resources.
- The clinic is for tenants only, and only for issues related to their apartment. We do not assist landlords or advise tenants on evicting roommates or family members.
Clinic Schedule (October through June):
| 1st & 3rd Tuesday |
|---|
| Location: 76 Trinity Place, New York |
| Arrive by 6:30 PM to be seen |
| Tenants are seen first-come, first-served; late arrivals may not be seen |
| 2nd & 4th Tuesday |
|---|
| Location: 5030 Broadway, New York |
| Tenants are seen first-come, first-served; late arrivals may not be seen |
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Help us achieve our goal of a city where safe, decent, affordable housing is a right, not a privilege.
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TENANTS TELEPHONE HOTLINE
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