Cal. Civ. Code § 220
Action for use and occupation
Operative Text
§ 220. Action for use and occupation. The landlord may recover a reasonable compensation for the use and occupation of real property, by any person, under an agreement, not made by deed; and a parol lease or other agreement may be used as evidence of the amount to which he is entitled.
Under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 220, a landlord has the legal right to seek reasonable monetary compensation when someone occupies real property under an informal or verbal agreement—one that was not executed as a formal deed. An oral lease or other informal arrangement can be introduced as evidence to help establish the fair value of that occupancy. The provision essentially recognizes that enforceable occupancy relationships can exist even without written, deed-level formality.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 220 provides a legal basis for property owners to pursue compensation for use and occupation even when no formal written deed exists. Operators who rely on verbal or informal leasing arrangements generally document the agreed-upon terms—such as rent amount, duration, and any other conditions—since such parol agreements are admissible as evidence of the compensation owed. Maintaining records of communications, payment history, and any oral understandings helps establish the reasonable value of occupancy if a dispute arises.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 220 means that a landlord may bring a legal claim for the value of your occupancy even if your agreement was entirely verbal or informal. As a tenant, it is worth understanding that an oral lease can be used in court proceedings to define what compensation is considered reasonable—which can work both for and against occupants depending on the circumstances. Tenants facing such claims may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand how informal agreements are evaluated under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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