Jurisdiction: Property must be located within the Ithaca City limits.

Forms: The forms necessary for initiating a Landlord-Tenant Proceeding can be  purchased from a stationary or office supply store or obtained from your attorney. The Court does not supply these forms.

Note:  To collect on damages to a property caused by a tenant or to collect for fees and services other than rent, the landlord must file a Small Claim petition with the Court. (Click here for Small Claims procedures)

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LANDLORD-TENANT LAW, YOU MAY CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR VISIT THE SUPREME COURT LIBRARY LOCATED IN THE TOMPKINS COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  THE COURT CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.
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For Non-Payment of Rent, the following procedures should be followed:

1.     3 DAY NOTICE:

Unless there is a written or verbal lease which indicates otherwise, before a Summary Proceeding (Landlord-Tenant proceeding) can be brought for non-payment of rent, a personal demand for rent or service of a written notice giving the tenant at least 3 days to pay the rent or surrender possession of the premises  must be served upon the tenant.

The 3 day notice must state the amount of the rent due and the period of time for which the amount is due, together with a demand that the total amount be paid within three (3) business days after service of the notice.  The date of service, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are excluded.

After the 3 day notice has been served on the tenant, an Affidavit of Service must be signed before a Notary Public by the person that served the 3 day notice.  The papers must be served by a person over the age of 18 years old.  It is suggested that the papers NOT be served by the landlord, but by a disinterested third person.

3.    NOTICE OF PETITION (e.g. Blumberg Form X445):
 

This paper can be issued by an Attorney, a Judge or the Clerk of the Court.  If a Judge or the Clerk of the Court is asked to sign the Notice of Petition, the Petition must be completed by the landlord and submitted to the City Court offices before it is served on the tenant.

Special Note: When completing the Petition (see below) and Notice of Petition, the landlord must call the Court for a court date, which must appear in the Notice of Petition.  The Court Date cannot be sooner than 5 days nor later than 12 days from the date the tenant is served. Generally, Summary Proceedings are held on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.  The landlord (petitioner) and the tenant (respondent), if properly served, must appear on the court date.
 

        The Petition must state the respondent’s interest in the property, that is, the petitioner must specify if the respondent is
        a tenant, a sub-tenant, or someone in possession of the property for some other reason.  To do this, the petitioner
        should state if there is a written lease or a verbal agreement to lease, and if so, the terms of such an agreement (length
        of lease term and payment schedule e.g. payment once a month)

        The landlord is to sign the Petition before a Notary Public.

        When the papers are completed, a Court Date provided and the Judge or Clerk of the Court has signed the Notice
        of Petition, then and only then can the tenant be served with the Notice of Petition and Petition.

The Notice of Petition, Petition, 3-day Notice (previously served on the tenant) and corresponding affidavit must be filed with the Court in DUPLICATE along with the filing fee.  The Judge or Clerk of the Court will sign the Notice of Petition and return the Notice of Petition and Petition to the Landlord.  The Notice of Petition and Petition must be served on the Tenant not less than 5 days and not more than 12 days before the Court date.
 

5.    AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (for service of Notice of Petition and Petition):

This Affidavit of Service is filed with the Court after service of the Notice of Petition and Petition on the tenant.  The Notice of Petition and Petition must be served by a person 18 years or older.  The person serving the papers will be attesting to the fact that the papers were served within the time limits allowed (not less than 5 days and no more than 12 days before the Court date). The person who serves the papers must not be a party to the action.

It is preferable that personal service be made upon the respondent- tenant or upon a person of suitable age and discretion residing with the respondent-tenant.  In cases where personal service is not possible, service may be made by "nail and mail", that is, posting the papers on the door of the residence of the respondent-tenant AND mailing a copy of the papers by certified mail, return receipt requested. (RPAPL sec. 735)

If, at any time, it is determined by the Landlord that the Court date is no longer needed, the Landlord should notify the Court, in writing, as soon as possible which may be faxed to the City Court.  Note: The filing fee can not be returned.

If the tenant pays the outstanding rent before the Court proceeding, the tenant cannot be evicted from the premises.

If the tenant fails to appear on the Court Date, the Court may sign the following document:
 

6.    WARRANT for Non-Payment: (e.g. Blumberg Form T447):

This document should be completed prior to the Court date by the landlord and brought to the Court hearing. The Court will sign this document if the tenant fails to appear for the Court hearing.  This will enable the Sheriff to remove the tenant from the premises.

Note: There is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the time you serve the tenant with a warrant and when the tenant may be removed from the premises by the Sheriff.

.

Jurisdiction: Property must be located within the Ithaca City limits.

Forms: The forms necessary for initiating a Landlord-Tenant Proceeding can be  purchased from a stationary or office supply store or obtained from your attorney.  The Court does not supply these forms.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LANDLORD-TENANT LAW, YOU MAY CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR VISIT THE SUPREME COURT LIBRARY LOCATED IN THE TOMPKINS COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  THE COURT CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.
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All landlord-tenant summary proceedings, other than for non-payment of rent [see instructions for non-payment], are called "holdover" proceedings.   These include actions:
    >   To remove tenants whose written lease has expired but who remain beyond the expiration date
    >   To remove tenants who remain on the premises after proper notification that the lease has ended
    >   To remove non-tenants such as squatters
    >   To remove objectionable tenants for violations of the lease or violations of the law (click here to advance to section
           regarding evictions to remove objectionable tenants)

A proceeding to evict a tenant whose written lease has expired may be commenced at the end of the lease term without a notice of termination given.  The landlord may file a Notice of Petition and Petition for eviction with the Court (see step 3 below).

If there is no written lease, the tenancy must be terminated by a 30 day written notice (see step 1 below).
In a ‘holdover’ proceeding, a landlord can make a claim for a “sum of money that was payable at the time when the (eviction) proceeding was commenced (plus) the reasonable value of the use and occupation to the time when the warrant was issued, for any period of time with respect to which the agreement does not make any provision for payment of rent” (RPAPL 749-3).

Note:  To collect on damages to a property caused by a tenant or to collect for fees and services other than rent, the landlord must file a Small Claim petition with the Court. (Click here for Small Claims procedures)

1.     30 DAY NOTICE:

The 30 day notice is a notice given to the tenant, renting on a month-to-month basis, requiring that the tenant surrender the premises within 30 days. [Note: If  the only complaint is that the tenant has failed to pay rent, follow the instructions for non-payment]. It is important to note that the 30 days notice must be given 30 days prior to the next rental date. In other words, if the rent is due on June 1st and the notice is served on May 31st or before, the notice may require the tenant to vacate on or before July 1st.  However, if the notice is served on June 1st, the notice could not legally require the tenant to move before August 1st which would be 30 days from the next rental date.

After the 30 day notice has been served on the tenant, an Affidavit of Service must be signed before a Notary Public by the person that served the 30 day notice.  The papers must be served by a person over the age of 18 years old.  It is suggested that the papers NOT be served by the landlord, but by a disinterested third person.

3.     NOTICE OF PETITION (e.g. Blumberg Form T449):

This paper can be issued by an Attorney, a Judge or the Clerk of the Court.  If a Judge or the Clerk of the Court is requested to sign the Notice of Petition, the petition must be completed by the landlord and submitted to the City Court offices before it is served on the tenant.

Special Note: When completing the Petition (see below) and Notice of Petition, the landlord must call the Court for a court date which must appear in the Notice of Petition.  The Court Date cannot be sooner than 5 days nor later than 12 days from the date the tenant is served. Generally, Summary Proceedings are held on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.  The landlord and the tenant, if properly served, must appear on the court date.

The Petition is a form that must be completed by the landlord and attached to the Notice of Petition and the 30-day notice, which was previously served on the tenant.  The landlord is to sign this paper and sign the verification in front of a Notary Public.

When the papers are completed and a Court Date has been provided and the Judge or Clerk of the Court has signed the Notice of Petition, then and only then can the tenant be served with the Notice of Petition and Petition.

5.     AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (for service of Notice of Petition and Petition):

This Affidavit of Service is filed with the Court after service of the Notice of Petition and Petition on the tenant.  The Notice of Petition and Petition must be served by a person 18 years or older.  The person serving the papers will be attesting to the fact that the papers were served within the time limits allowed (not less than 5 days and no more than 12 days before the Court date). The person who serves the papers must not be a party to the action.

It is preferable that personal service be made upon the respondent- tenant or upon a person of suitable age and discretion residing with the respondent-tenant.  In cases where personal service is not possible, service may be made by "nail and mail", that is, posting the papers on the door of the residence of the respondent-tenant AND mailing a copy of the papers by certified mail, return receipt requested. (RPAPL sec. 735)

If, at any time, it is determined by the Landlord that the Court date is no longer needed, the Landlord should notify the Court, in writing, as soon as possible which may be faxed to the City Court.  Note: The filing fee can not be returned.

If the tenant fails to appear on the Court Date, the Court may sign the following document:
 

6.     WARRANT for Holdover: (e.g. Blumberg form T453)

This document should be completed prior to the Court date by the landlord and brought to the Court hearing. The Court will sign this document if the tenant fails to appear for the Court hearing.  This will enable the Sheriff to remove the  from the premises.

Note: There is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the time you serve the tenant with a warrant and when the tenant may be removed from the premises by the Sheriff.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jurisdiction: Property must be located within the Ithaca City limits.

Forms: The forms necessary for initiating a proceeding to evict for violations of the terms of the lease/violations of the law can be obtained from New York Landlord and Tenant Handbook by Judge Jeffrey H. Gallet or other publications available at the Supreme County Library located in the Tompkins County Courthouse. The Court does not supply these forms.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LANDLORD-TENANT LAW, YOU MAY CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR VISIT THE SUPREME COURT LIBRARY LOCATED IN THE TOMPKINS COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  THE COURT CANNOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.
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1.     NOTICE TO OBJECTIONABLE TENANT:

Before commencing an eviction proceeding, the landlord must give the tenant notice of his/her objectionable conduct that is the basis of the landlord's decision to terminate the lease.  The written lease may set forth the length and/or type of notice to be given to the tenant.  If there is a written lease, each party must comply with its terms.

Note: If the grounds for eviction is alleged illegal use of the property, such as drug dealing, then there are special procedures set forth in the New York Real Property Actions and Proceedings  Law sec. 715.  Copies of the law may be obtained from the Supreme Court Library in the Tompkins County Courthouse.

Note: If the grounds for eviction is alleged illegal drug use on the property, then the procedures for commencing the eviction are set forth in the Ithaca City Code sec. 177-1 through 177-6.  Copies of the law can be obtained from the City Clerk at City Hall.

If a tenant does not cure the violation of the lease within the time required by the lease or continues the objectionable behavior AND proper notice has been provided to the tenant as dictated in the lease, the landlord may initiate an eviction proceeding in City Court by completing and filing the following documents:

2.     NOTICE OF PETITION:

This paper can be issued by an Attorney, a Judge or the Clerk of the Court.  If a Judge or the Clerk of the Court is requested to sign the Notice of Petition, the petition must be completed by the landlord and submitted to the City Court offices before it is served on the tenant.

Special Note: When completing the Petition (see below) and Notice of Petition, the landlord must call the Court for a court date which must appear in the Notice of Petition.  The Court Date cannot be sooner than 5 days nor later than 12 days from the date the tenant is served. Generally, Summary Proceedings are held on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.  The landlord and the tenant, if properly served, must appear on the court date.

The Petition is a form that must be completed by the landlord and attached to the Notice of Petition and the 3-day notice, which was previously served on the tenant.  The landlord is to sign this paper and sign the verification in front of a Notary Public.

When the papers are completed and a Court Date has been provided and the Judge or Clerk of the Court has signed the Notice of Petition, then and only then can the tenant be served with the Notice of Petition and Petition.

4.     AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (for service of Notice of Petition and Petition):

This Affidavit of Service is filed with the Court after service of the Notice of Petition and Petition on the tenant.  The Notice of Petition and Petition must be served by a person 18 years or older.  The person serving the papers will be attesting to the fact that the papers were served within the time limits allowed (not less than 5 days and no more than 12 days before the Court date). The person who serves the papers must not be a party to the action.

It is preferable that personal service be made upon the respondent- tenant or upon a person of suitable age and discretion residing with the respondent-tenant.  In cases where personal service is not possible, service may be made by "nail and mail", that is, posting the papers on the door of the residence of the respondent-tenant AND mailing a copy of the papers by certified mail, return receipt requested. (RPAPL sec. 735)

If, at any time, it is determined by the Landlord that the Court date is no longer needed, the Landlord should notify the Court, in writing, as soon as possible which may be faxed to the City Court.  Note: The filing fee can not be returned.

If the tenant fails to appear on the Court Date, the Court may sign the following document:
 

5.     WARRANT:

This document should be completed prior to the Court date by the landlord and brought to the Court hearing. The Court will sign this document if the tenant fails to appear for the Court hearing.  This will enable the Sheriff to remove the  from the premises.

Note: There is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the time you serve the tenant with a warrant and when the tenant may be removed from the premises by the Sheriff.