{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "241.02", "citation": "Penal Law § 241.02", "heading": "Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree", "text": ["§ 241.02 Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree.", "An owner is guilty of harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree when, with intent to induce a rent regulated tenant to vacate a housing accommodation, such owner intentionally engages in a course of conduct that:", "1. impairs the habitability of a housing accommodation; or", "2. creates or maintains a condition which endangers the safety or health of the dwelling's tenant; or", "3. is reasonably likely to interfere with or disturb, and does interfere with or disturb, the comfort, repose, peace or quiet of such rent regulated tenant in his or her use and occupancy of such housing accommodation including, but not limited to, the interruption or discontinuance of essential services. The good faith commencement and pursuit of a lawful eviction action by an owner against a rent regulated tenant in a court of competent jurisdiction shall not, by itself, constitute a \"course of conduct\" in violation of this subdivision.", "Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/241.02", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "An **owner** commits second-degree harassment of a rent regulated tenant when, **with intent to induce the tenant to vacate**, the owner **intentionally engages in a course of conduct** that:\n- **(1)** **Impairs the habitability** of a housing accommodation;\n- **(2)** **Creates or maintains a condition endangering the safety or health** of the dwelling's tenant; or\n- **(3)** Is **reasonably likely to, and does, interfere with or disturb** the tenant's comfort, repose, peace or quiet in using the unit, including **interrupting or discontinuing essential services**. ★ Under this subdivision, **good-faith commencement and pursuit of a lawful eviction action** in a court of competent jurisdiction is **not, by itself**, a course of conduct.\nThe offense is a **class A misdemeanor**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/241.02", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}