New York City Housing Authority Liability for Injuries

Posted in Premises Liability on July 14, 2025

New York City residents want to feel safe in their own homes, including those who rely on New York City’s Housing Authority (NYCHA) to provide affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents. Around one in 17 New York residents lives in public housing, including Section-8 apartments, conventional public housing, and homes inside Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) housing developments.

When a resident under New York’s Housing Authority suffers injuries, they may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn for compensation for their injury-related damages. Turn to one of our premises liability lawyers in New York City today to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.

What Causes Injuries In New York City Public Housing?

All property owners and building managers must conduct regular inspections of their properties, identify safety hazards and problematic repair issues, and promptly address these problems through adequate warnings and timely repairs. Despite this obligation, many building managers and officials procrastinate on repair jobs, fail to take proper maintenance measures, or cut corners when adhering to building codes and security. Common causes of injuries include the following:

Slip-and-falls from broken floorboards, uneven walkways, plumbing leaks, or uncleared snow and ice accumulation
Broken staircase accidents
Elevator injuries
Faulty appliances
Gas leaks
Building code violations
Insufficient building maintenance
Ceiling collapse
Balcony collapse
Apartment fires
Inadequate lighting
Insufficient security

These are some, but by no means all, of the common ways that building negligence can cause injuries.

What Is the “Duty of Care” for Housing Authorities In New York?

Just as private owners of apartment complexes and other rental units, NYC’s Housing Authority owes a legal duty of care to tenants, visitors, and others legally on their properties. This duty requires building managers and state authorities to take reasonable measures to prevent injuries caused by hazardous conditions on the property. Proving liability in these cases requires showing evidence of the following:

The building manager and/or NYCHA authorities knew about the hazardous condition or should reasonably have known of its existence
The NYCHA owed a duty of care to the injury victim
They violated this duty of care
The violation of their duty caused the injury
The injury victim suffered damages from the injury

An injury victim seeking compensation has the burden of proving liability through a preponderance of the evidence.

What Evidence Do I Need for an Injury Claim Against the New York City Housing Authority?

Proving that you were injured through no fault of your own but due to negligent building repair, maintenance, or security can be challenging. Typical evidence includes previous written complaints, photo or video evidence, eyewitness testimony, and reports from relevant structural or building maintenance experts.

An injury victim must also demonstrate evidence that their injury caused damages like medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Often, this requires medical records, employer statements, and testimony from medical experts.

Unique Deadlines for Claims Against New York’s Housing Authority

Most premises liability claims in New York fall under the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which is three years from the date of the injury; however, claims against government entities have unique timelines and other special requirements. Under New York’s G.M.L. § 50-e(2), a claim against the New York Housing Authority requires a special Notice of Claim against a municipal entity filed within 90 days of the injury. Then, an injury victim must wait thirty days after filing the notice of claim before filing a lawsuit, but must file within one year and 90 days from the date the injury occurred.

An experienced New York premises liability attorney can help ensure that your case meets all filing deadlines and the burden of proof demonstrating the New York Housing Authority’s liability and the full extent of your injury damages.