Landlords write leases with their attorneys — you have 48 hours to sign

Landlords write leases. Their lawyers review them. You have 48 hours to sign.

Paste your lease. Get a complete red-flag analysis: illegal clauses, negotiation opportunities, what they can't actually enforce, and what you should push back on before signing.

Analyze my lease — $49→What we flag

HSTPA 2019 changed the rules. Most NYC leases still have illegal clauses — waiver of warranty of habitability, pre-paid rent, security deposits above 1 month. We find them.

1 in 3
NYC leases contain at least one clause that is void under HSTPA 2019
$2,800
Average improper security deposit recovered by tenants who dispute
48 hrs
Typical window to review before signing — most people spend 10 minutes

The clauses landlords hope you miss

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Illegal clauses flagged

Waiver of warranty of habitability (NY RPL §235-b), pre-paid rent above 1 month, security deposit above 1 month (post-HSTPA), waiver of right to jury trial — all void in NYC. We flag every one.

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Rent stabilization status

Is the unit rent-stabilized? Did they disclose? Preferential rent clauses are the most expensive surprise in NYC — your "deal" rent can reset to legal regulated rent on renewal.

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Security deposit + fees

Post-HSTPA: max 1 month deposit, max $50 or 5% late fee, broker fee clarity. Many leases still have pre-2019 language. We flag every amount that's over the limit.

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Negotiation opportunities

Free month, reduced deposit, pet permission addendum, break clause, early termination fee cap. Most tenants never ask. We show you where the landlord has room.

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Pet and guarantor clauses

NYC no-pet waivers: 3-month open-and-notorious rule. Guarantor requirements under §26-511. What's enforceable and what your actual rights are.

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Notice periods and renewal traps

Lease renewal notice deadlines (30/60/90 days in some leases). Auto-renewal clauses. Month-to-month holdover terms. The calendar traps that catch tenants by surprise.

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✓ Verified

Found a pre-HSTPA clause requiring 2 months security deposit. Landlord agreed to reduce to 1 month — saved $3,400.

J
Jennifer M.
Manhattan, NY
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✓ Verified

Warranty of habitability waiver was buried on page 6. Flagged before signing. Landlord removed it without argument.

M
Marcus T.
Brooklyn, NY
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✓ Verified

Preferential rent clause identified before I signed. Avoided a $600/month rent reset at renewal.

P
Priya S.
Queens, NY

One analysis. One payment. Save $800+ vs. a tenant attorney consultation.

Starter

$29

Illegal clause detection and security deposit audit — the two checks most critical before signing.

  • Illegal clause identification with citations
  • Rent stabilization status check
  • Security deposit + fee audit (HSTPA compliance)

30-day money-back guarantee

MOST POPULAR

Full Lease Analysis

$49

Complete red-flag review of your lease. Less than 1 hour of a tenant attorney's time.

  • Illegal clause identification with citations
  • Rent stabilization status check
  • Security deposit + fee audit (HSTPA compliance)
  • Preferential rent clause warning
  • Pet, subletting, guarantor rights
  • Notice period and renewal trap analysis
  • Negotiation opportunities list

30-day money-back guarantee

Frequently asked

Is this legal advice?

No. This is research and analysis to help you understand your lease before signing. For active disputes, eviction defense, or harassment, use Tenant Defender or contact Met Council on Housing.

Does this work outside NYC?

Partially. The illegal clause detection is NYC/NY-specific. The general red-flag analysis (negotiation opportunities, unfair terms, notice periods) applies nationally. We tell you which flags are NY-specific.

My landlord says the lease is "standard." Is it?

"Standard" means their standard. Most NYC leases are written to favor landlords — that's the point. We find the clauses that are standard in their favor but illegal or negotiable in yours.

Is Lease Analyzer worth $49?

Tenant attorneys charge $300–$600/hr. At $49 you get an illegal clause scan, security deposit audit, and negotiation opportunities list in 2 minutes. One identified illegal clause typically returns $1,000–$3,400.

What if I already signed?

Some clauses in a signed lease are still void if they're illegal — you can't waive the warranty of habitability regardless of what you signed. For active issues, use Tenant Defender instead.