New York Law (NYLE) Practice Exam 2025 - Free NYLE Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of New York Law, if a landlord breaches the warranty of habitability, tenants have specific rights designed to protect their living conditions. The warranty of habitability requires landlords to maintain rental properties in a condition fit for human habitation, addressing essential repairs and overall safety.

When a tenant asserts their rights under this warranty, they may pursue several options. Filing for money damages enables tenants to seek compensation for losses incurred due to the breach. Rent abatement allows tenants to reduce their rent to reflect the diminished value of the premises when habitability is compromised. Terminating the lease is another viable option for tenants who feel they can no longer remain in a unit that is uninhabitable.

However, filing criminal charges is not a recognized right for tenants in these situations. Criminal charges typically pertain to violations of state or local laws that are prosecutable by the government, rather than civil disputes between landlords and tenants regarding leases and habitability issues. The appropriate recourse for a tenant confronting a breach involves civil remedies, rather than seeking criminal penalties. Thus, the correct answer acknowledges that filing criminal charges does not align with the rights available to tenants when a landlord fails to uphold the warranty of habitability.