Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-14
Prohibition of retaliatory action
Operative Text
(a) It is unlawful for an owner, or any person acting on his or her behalf, to take any retaliatory action toward a tenant who reports a suspected lead-based paint hazard to the owner, the city, the Onondaga County Health Department and their medical practitioner. Retaliatory actions include but are not limited to any actions that materially alter the terms of the tenancy (including rent increases and non-renewals) or interfere with the occupants' use of the property, or any other action provided under New York Real Property Law § 223-b. (b) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any attempt by the owner to raise rents, curtail services, refuse to renew or attempt to evict a tenant within one year of any report to the city or the owner or any enforcement action in connection with a suspected lead hazard is a retaliatory action in violation of this section, except that in instances of nonpayment of rent or commission of waste upon the premises by the tenant no such presumption shall apply. After one year form the date of the reporting of a suspected lead hazard, or the most recent activity related to any enforcement action, the defense of retaliatory eviction shall remain available to the tenant, but without the benefit of the presumption created by this section. (c) The provisions of this section shall not be given effect in any case in which it is established that the condition from which the complaint or action arose was caused by the tenant, a member of the tenant's household, or a guest of the tenant; nor shall it apply in a case where a tenancy was terminated pursuant to the terms of a lease as a result of a bona fide transfer of ownership.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-14 makes it unlawful for a property owner—or anyone acting on their behalf—to take retaliatory action against a tenant who reports a suspected lead-based paint hazard to the owner, the city, or the Onondaga County Health Department. Retaliatory actions include rent increases, non-renewals, service reductions, eviction attempts, or anything else that materially disrupts a tenant's occupancy. Within one year of such a report or related enforcement activity, the law presumes that adverse actions by the owner are retaliatory, though that presumption does not apply when the tenant has failed to pay rent, caused waste on the property, or when the hazardous condition was caused by the tenant or their household.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-14, compliant property owners are careful to ensure that any rent increases, lease non-renewals, service changes, or eviction proceedings initiated within one year of a lead-hazard report are grounded in documented, legitimate reasons entirely unrelated to the report. Because the law creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation during that one-year window, operators generally maintain thorough records—such as payment histories, maintenance logs, and lease correspondence—that can demonstrate a lawful basis for any tenancy changes. Owners should also be aware that the anti-retaliation protections do not apply when the tenant caused the hazardous condition or when a tenancy ends due to a bona fide ownership transfer under the terms of a lease.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 54 § 54-14 gives tenants who report suspected lead-based paint hazards meaningful protection against adverse actions like rent hikes, eviction attempts, or service cutbacks. If such actions occur within one year of a report to the city, the owner, or the Onondaga County Health Department, the law presumes those actions are retaliatory—a powerful protection that tenants may be able to raise as a defense in housing court or in other proceedings. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider contacting the City of Syracuse, the Onondaga County Health Department, or a local tenant-rights organization to understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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