What must a New York residential lease include?
A New York residential lease should include the names of the landlord and every tenant, the property address, the rent amount and due day, the lease term and start and end dates, the security deposit amount (up to 1 month of rent under GOL 7-108(1-a), HSTPA 2019), state-mandated disclosures (federal lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 units, plus any New York-specific disclosures), and signature lines. New York landlord-tenant law applies several mandatory terms even if the lease is silent. A New York-specific lease template applies the correct clauses automatically. LeaseKit builds these from the relevant statutes.
Source: New York landlord-tenant code
This is an informational answer based on New York landlord-tenant code as of early 2026. It is not legal advice. Housing law changes year to year and local ordinances (especially in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized cities) can override or add to state law. For contested cases, consult a New York-licensed attorney.