New York · application fee law
Are Rental Application Fees Legal in New York?
What New York lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
The legal line in New York
$20 max — A landlord may charge no more than $20 total for a background and credit check — and must waive even that if you provide your own recent screening report.
What screening actually costs
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in New York that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Hard $ cap |
|---|---|
| The legal line | $20 max |
| Refund rights | Anything over $20 is unlawful; the fee must be waived entirely if you supply your own report and a background check from the last 30 days. |
| Receipt required | Yes |
| Reusable screening report | Yes — you can supply your own |
| Statute | N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a |
Check your New York application fee
We'll compare it to the law and the real cost of screening.
How New York compares
See every state's cap, the real cost of screening, and the markup landlords add — the full picture in one place.
Informational only, not legal advice — verify N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a and current screening costs before acting.