How to Escape the Dreaded ‘Tenant Blacklist’

@Stewart One thing worth considering — especially in your shoes — is that tenants can be added to the blacklist if they take their landlords to court as well. While most landlords are good people, I'm sure you're aware there are some out there who, through negligence, unintentional error or (sometimes) with full knowledge, violate their tenants' rights, overcharge, or in other ways harass their tenants. Any reasonable tenant will first contact their landlord and try to straighten out the issue, but if that doesn't work, often the only way to seek a remedy is with a lawsuit; many of the state's and city's protections only apply to tenants who are rent stabilized or similar. I'm sure you're not suggesting that tenants should simply roll over and accept rent overcharges or deliberate harassment. Further, landlords can initiate an eviction proceeding even if there's no grounds for eviction, as a form of tenant harassment. It's unscrupulous, but it does happen — and that adds the tenant's name to the court records and automatically blacklists them, even if the eviction attempt is defeated. I'm not saying that a blacklist shouldn't exist at all; landlords are certainly entitled to an expectation that their leases will be adhered to and rent paid on time, and a clear list of tenants to avoid can help with that. But adding tenants to a blacklist because they're a victim of a landlord's harassment, or simply because they stand up for their rights, is grossly and manifestly unfair.

@Stewart The roommate law requires tenants to give the name of the roommate to the landlord See NY Real Property Law 235-f. And in any eviction case, the landlord has to name all occupants of the apartment in order for the court to have jurisdiction over them and if it comes to an eviction, for the marshal to carry it out. Roommates are often innocent victims in these situations.

@Tim Actually tenants who sue their landlords to get repairs done, in what are known as HP Proceedings, do NOT get blacklisted. It's only tenants, roommates and subtenants who are named as respondents in eviction cases who end up on the blacklists.

@Ericka Is it any different anywhere else? The article says that the information is shared nation wide.

@Jean No such thing in Nebraska. It's so incredibly mean. Can ruin peoples' lives much as bad credit can.

@Praire & Erica In Nebraska and other states, a landlord can probably put your stuff on the street after 30 days of non payment. Not the case in NYC. That being said, the so called blacklist is indeed abused. Context seems to be nonexistent. I've seen people denied apts because they have taken their landlords to court for repairs etc.

@babysladkaya Maybe your confusion is caused by the fact you don't understand how unfair the system is. Essentially you get put on the list just for being somehow tangentially related to the lease, even if the landlord loses the case. The landlord does not even have to name you in the case for you to be included on the tenant blacklist. Tenant screening bureaus create the lists that landlords buy. If in the public information they use to create the lists, you are somehow connected to the apartment for the period the case is about, they will add your name to the blacklist. If you are named in the case, it does not matter if you win your case, you are still placed on the blacklist.

@David Binko Main point is, if you have a problem with your landlord and want to bring them to court to settle the problem, you are put on the list, so essentially your right to protect your rights is taken away from you if you want to continue to live in NYC as a renter.

@J c How is knowingly help someone to break a contract actionable? And how did the did he "knowingly" help the tenant break the lease? What lesson is to be learned, other than don't rent in NYC?

There is a roommate law in New York State legally allowing a roommate despite what a lease might say. Additionally, New York City rent stabilization laws allow a roommate. This also governs tenancy in a co-op apartment. I highly doubt the writer broke any contract.

@J c "Maybe because you knowingly helped break a legal contract (your roommates lease, which certainly stipulated not renting out individual rooms)." If it did that, it would be in violation on NYC law. Tenants are legally entitled to a roommate.

@Dee ....and then, there's always the Magic of Money: youths make mistakes in the choice of friends: take the hit, pay the back-rent and ask the landlord to forgive you your mistake in business dealings (some ask their room-mate to show them the receipt from the landlord) and ask him to take your name of the list. NO pain,no gain! Hubris and finger pointing don't seem to be working for her, so just pay. Or, be 'right' and wait for justice. Some people Pray to a higher power. goodluck!

@Mikemotorbike I see my comment is not popular. in the real world, people 'pay to play'. rent is too important an issue for comments section phoney posturing and outrage. Pay the outrageous tourist price, learn the lesson, take responsibility, and don't live under a bridge: or be soggy and self righteous! life is tuff.

@Howard G is there an independent tribunal like, for instance, "VCAT" (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) which will adjudicate on tenancy issues? of course: its apropos the Victorian Residential Tenanices Act , so, there also needs to be legislation per se; VCAT decisions are usually fair and evictions are only authorised for serious matters such as non-payment of rent, major damage to a property and/or proven criminal activity such as drug-dealing/drug manufacture on a rented premisses &c ..... without a VCAT order, a land-lord *cannot* evict a tenant and, in fact, can be charged by the police if they try to do so "off-their-own-bat" .....

@jimbo Here's the problem - Imagine you appear before the VCAT to have a dispute resolved between you and your landlord - and imagine that VCAT adjudicates and finds in your favor - that you were in the right - while your landlord was in the wrong -- Now - imagine that all VCAT decisions are a matter of public record - and anyone can view them in an accessible online database -- And now - imagine that even though you won the decision at VCAT - you are deemed to be a "Troublesome Tenant" for demanding your legal rights from your landlord - and - as a result - your name is placed on a tenant's "Blacklist" - which every landlord, real estate agent and management company consults before approving an application from a prospective new tenant -- And - finally - that rejection - based upon your name appearing in the Blacklist - is perfectly legal and not subject to any further VCAT review -- That is when happens to many tenants here in the U.S. -- And yes - there are of course real deadbeat and bad tenants who deserve to be on that "Do-Not-Rent-To-This-Person" list...