What is the NYC Roommate Law and what are my rights?

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New York's Roommate Law (Real Property Law § 235-f) gives tenants the right to have at least one roommate — even if their lease says otherwise.

Key rules under the NYC Roommate Law:

If you are the only named tenant on the lease, you have the right to have one additional roommate (plus their dependent children)
If there are multiple tenants on the lease, the total number of occupants (tenants + roommates) cannot exceed the number of named tenants on the lease
Your landlord cannot prohibit you from having a roommate — lease clauses that attempt to do so are unenforceable
You must notify your landlord of your roommate's name within 30 days of them moving in
Your landlord can ask for your roommate's name but cannot require a credit check from them

What your roommate's legal status means:

Your roommate is NOT a tenant — they have no direct legal relationship with the landlord
As the leaseholder, you remain fully responsible for the entire rent, even if your roommate stops paying their share
In rent-stabilized apartments, you cannot charge your roommate more than their proportionate share of the legal rent
A written roommate agreement — though not legally required — is strongly recommended to establish rules about rent, utilities, guests and chores

If your landlord denies your right to a roommate: You can sue your landlord for the violation. A court may award you financial compensation, court fees and attorney fees.