If things aren’t going right with your apartment, whether it’s something small or something big, it can throw you off in your career, your personal life, and your health, especially if you are a creative. You want your energy going into your art, your business, your family, and the causes and people you care about, not into grappling with housing issues.
New York City tenants have more rights than tenants anywhere else in America. But NYC tenants also are shockingly uneducated about what those rights are. A right that you don’t know you have is the same as no right at all. And there are so many bits of incomplete information out there, peppered with urban myths about landlord-tenant law.
This podcast will change all that.
In each episode we look at current legal cases and statutes and the real-life apartment stories they give rise to here in the greatest city on earth. And every episode ends with a “Tenant Takeaway”, so you have actionable information to help you make better choices.
The law belongs to you, NYC. But your ownership of the law is only as great as your understanding of the law. So, let’s learn, to live better!
This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. The views expressed are the speaker’s alone and may not reflect those of any organization or employer. Laws evolve, and outcomes depend on specific facts. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney–client relationship. If you have a legal question, you should seek individualized counsel.
Episode 60: How to Protect Your Rent Stabilized Apartment from a Non-Primary Residence Case
In Episode 60, we take a deep dive on how to protect your Rent Stabilized apartment from a Non-Primary Residence claim. This episode is a companion to a FREE 29-page booklet entitled, How to Protect Your Rent Stabilized Apartment in Non-Primary Residence and Succession Cases.
Links:
• Website
• Booklet: How to Protect Your Rent Stabilized Apartment in Non-Primary Residence and Succession Cases
• Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com.
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26 Jul 2026
Episode 59: Why Your Landlord Still Wants to Evict You From Your Rent Stabilized Apartment, Even After the HSTPA
In Episode 59, we look at five reasons that landlords still very much want to evict tenants from Rent Stabilized apartments, even after the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 made vacancy way less valuable to landlords.
Links:
Website
FREE Booklet: How to Protect Your Rent Stabilized Apartment in Non-Primary Residence and Succession Cases
Suggest Future Topics at: questions@tenantlearningplatform.com
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26 Jul 2026
Episode 58: Can you vacate a stipulation of settlement that you entered into in Housing Court if you later regret making the deal?
In Episode 58, we look at whether you can you vacate a stipulation of settlement that you entered into in Housing Court if you later regret making the deal.
A court can undo/vacate a stipulation of settlement:
• to promote justice and prevent wrong. Foote v. Adams, 232 AD 60 [2d Dept 1931]
• when the stipulation of settlement is unjust or harsh, even when fully understood and authorized. Bond v Bond, 260 AD 781, 782 [1940].
• if a stipulation rested on an assumption, which was subsequently proven false. Horodeckyi v Horodniak, 9 AD2d 732 [1st Dept 1959].
• if a stipulation runs contrary to public policy, it may also be vacated. In Re Willie L.C., 65 AD3d 683 [2d Dept 2009].
• in the Rent Stabilization context, where a tenant makes a decision to give up a forever home for not a lot of benefit. 45-48 47th St. Corp. v Murphy, 45 Misc.3d 23 [Appellate Term 2d Dept 2014].
• in the Rent Stabilized context, where a tenant agrees to something that violated Rent Stabilization, such as the tenant agreeing to pay an illegally high rent. Samson Management, LLC v. Cordero, 62 Misc.3d 129(A) [Appellate Term 2018].
• or in the free- market context, where it turns out that the apartment might be Rent Stabilized. 270 Glenmore Ave., LLC v Blondet, 55 Misc.3d 133(A) [Appellate Term 2d Dept 2017].
Links:
• Learn to Live Better, a Housing Law Podcast - Website
• Today’s Case: Clarke v. Haliman, 2025 WL 4036703 [NYC Civ Ct, Bronx Cty 2025]
• New York State Unified Court System 2025 Annual Report
• NYC Office of Civil Justice FY25 Annual Report
• Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com.
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Music licensed via Riverside FM through Soundstripe:
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18 Feb 2026
Episode 7: Late Renewal? Protect Yourself from Overcharges on a Rent Stabilized Lease!
Today we are looking at a case and a regulation that reminds us of a tenant’s rights when the landlord renews a Rent Stabilized lease late. We are going to try to clear up some confusion and save tenants a few bucks.
Links:
• Michelle Itkowitz Podcasting Website
• New York City Rent Guidelines Board
• Today’s Case
• Rent Stabilization Code § 2523.5(c)(1)
• Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com.
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27 Jan 2026
Episode 6: Stop Negotiating with Your Landlord the Wrong Way; Housing Court Hack – Wrong Description of Apartment
You have been sued by your landlord, and you just wish the case would go away, because with a bit more time, you would have the money to move, which you were planning on doing anyway. You just need a break. Therefore, in this episode, we look at a Housing Court Hack regarding the inadequate apartment description defense in eviction lawsuits. We also cover where tenants often go wrong in their negotiations with their landlords and offer some tips for obtaining better deal outcomes.
Links:
• Case Mentioned: Ahmed v. Reid, 77 Misc.3d 1213(A) [New York City Civil Court, Kings County 2022].
• Today’s Case: Osibodu v. Fehintola, 2025 WL 4062273 [New York City Civil Court, Kings County 2025].
• Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com.
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12 Jan 2026
Episode 5: NYC Rental Housing Types Demystified
You are moving to New York City, and you have questions about NYC rental housing. Or, you have lived in New York City all your life, and you still have questions about NYC Housing!
Rent Stabilization, Rent Control, the Good Cause Eviction Law, Affordable Housing, Co-ops, Condos, Co-living. Welcome to the most confusing rental housing landscape in the country.
Not to worry. In this episode, we explain everything!
Links:
Tenant Law Podcast Website
New York City Rent Guidelines Board
New York State
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com
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4 Jan 2026
Episode 4: A Powerful Defense to the Nonpayment of Rent that Few Tenants Know About; Multiple Dwelling Law 302 Explored!
In Episode 4 we are looking at a defense to the nonpayment of rent that could apply to as many as a hundred thousand apartments – Multiple Dwelling Law 302, which applies when a building is occupied contrary to its certificate of occupancy on file with the New York City Department of Buildings. But very few tenants know about this law or how to properly utilize this powerful defense. After today's episode, you will understand much better.
Links:
• Multiple Dwelling Law 301
• Multiple Dwelling Law 302
• Today’s Case: 8224 Bay Parkway LLC v. Odom, 86 Misc.3d 1255(A) [Civil Court of City of New York, Kings County 2025]
• NYC Admin Law Library (for OATH Decisions)
• Suggest future topics at mmaratto@itkowitz.com
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24 Dec 2025
Episode 3: Can your landlord charge you an extra fee each month because you pay your rent electronically?
Can your landlord up-charge you for paying rent electronically? Those charges sure add up over time. For that matter, can the landlord charge you an extra fee for paying manually – with a check, cash, or money order? If you don’t pay electronically, how can you document that you’ve paid? Do you have a right to a receipt? What type of receipt? And how soon after you pay manually must the landlord give you the receipt? What if you are a subtenant, do the answers change? What if you are Rent Stabilized, do the answers change?
These are the questions we are tackling in this Episode 3 of Learn to Live Better, a Housing Law Podcast.
Links:
• DHCR Fact Sheet 44
• Email us with topic suggestions. questions@tenantlearningplatform.com
Like, subscribe, review, share – these are the best ways to get this information to more New Yorkers who need it.
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21 Dec 2025
Episode 2: Can problems with your building's amenities be addressed economically and quickly by a tenant class action?
Are you having a problem with the amenities in your building? Well amenities are usually common elements so if you’re having a problem, maybe the other tenants in your building are having the same problem. Could a class action lawsuit, be an economical and easy way for you and your neighbors to take collective action against your landlord to fix whatever is wrong? We look at a case where the tenants did just that, involving a pool!
Links:
Today’s Case
Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com
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27 Nov 2025
Episode 1: Breaking Your Lease Early - Seven Best Practices
Yesterday, you signed a lease for an apartment in Brooklyn for $4100 per month.
But all those career advice podcasts that you consumed on the Broadway Podcast Network finally paid off, and you got cast in a Broadway show…well…during its Off-Broadway run…in a state not exactly contiguous with New York. But this is the break you’ve been waiting for!
The problem is you just committed to paying a landlord in Brooklyn $50,000 over the next year, for an apartment you no longer need.
Fortunately, you have found this episode, “Best Practices for Breaking Your New York City Lease Early”. We are going to go over the law and the cases that you need to know, that are very much in tenants’ favor. Then we will wrap up with seven Tenant Takeaways, actionable tips to help you lessen your liability and, hopefully, negotiate your way out of your lease. Then you can put this chapter behind you without fear of the landlord chasing you all the way to Tupelo!
Let us know what housing law topics you would like to hear more about at mmaratto@itkowitz.com.
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3 Nov 2025
Introducing Learn to Live Better: A Housing Law Podcast
This is a podcast for all types of New York City tenants. Whether you are renting a luxury apartment, are a starving artist sleeping on your friend’s couch, or are part of the vast, forgotten middle class, this is the podcast that will educate you about the many rights that you do not even that you have!
New York City tenants have more rights than tenants anywhere else in America. But NYC tenants also are shockingly uneducated about what those rights are. A right that you don’t know you have is the same as no right at all. There are so many bits of incomplete information out there, peppered with urban myths about landlord-tenant law.
This podcast will change all that.
In each episode we look at current legal cases and statutes and the real-life apartment stories they give rise to here in the greatest city on earth. And every episode ends with a “Tenant Takeaway”, so you have actionable information to help you make better choices.
The law belongs to you, NYC. But your ownership of the law is only as great as your understanding of the law. So, let’s learn, to live better!
The content in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. No attorney-client or other professional relationship is formed by listening. Always consult a qualified professional for advice on your specific situation. Views are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer or partner.
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