Tenant Law Podcast

Tenant Law Podcast

On the Tenant Law Podcast we examine new, interesting, and/or important legal cases and laws affecting New York City tenants. First, we give you some background, so you have the context to understand the topic that what we are discussing. Then, we talk about the case or the law. Finally, we give you a Tenant Takeaway! New York City, the law belongs to you. But your ownership of the law is only as great as your understanding of the law. So, let’s learn…to live better! Suggest topics at tenantlawpodcast@gmail.com. NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

  1. Jun 7

    Episode 58: Can you vacate a stipulation of settlement that you entered into in Housing Court if you later regret making the deal?

    Music Attribution: Minerals Music licensed through Soundstripe. Via RiversideFM.Code: EAKRZYQUPKUC4NLV Wonderment Music licensed through Soundstripe. Via RiversideFM.Code: TBVTWPZGFS36SCN6 Description: Can you vacate a stipulation of settlement that you entered into in Housing Court if you later regret making the deal? A court can undo/vacate a stipulation of settlement: • to promote justice and prevent wrong. Foote v. Adams, 232 AD 60 [2d Dept 1931] • when the stipulation of settlement is unjust or harsh, even when fully understood and authorized. Bond v Bond, 260 AD 781, 782 [1940]. • if a stipulation rested on an assumption, which was subsequently proven false. Horodeckyi v Horodniak, 9 AD2d 732 [1st Dept 1959]. • if a stipulation runs contrary to public policy, it may also be vacated. In Re Willie L.C., 65 AD3d 683 [2d Dept 2009]. • in the Rent Stabilization context, where a tenant makes a decision to give up a forever home for not a lot of benefit. 45-48 47th St. Corp. v Murphy, 45 Misc.3d 23 [Appellate Term 2d Dept 2014]. • in the Rent Stabilized context, where a tenant agrees to something that violated Rent Stabilization, such as the tenant agreeing to pay an illegally high rent. Samson Management, LLC v. Cordero, 62 Misc 3d 129(A) [Appellate Term 2018]. • or in the free- market context, where it turns out that the apartment might be Rent Stabilized. 270 Glenmore Ave., LLC v Blondet, 55 Misc 3d 133(A) [Appellate Term 2d Dept 2017]. Links: • Learn to Live Better, website • Today’s Case: Clarke v. Haliman, 2025 WL 4036703 [NYC Civ Ct, Bronx Cty 2025] • New York State Unified Court System 2025 Annual Report • NYC Office of Civil Justice FY25 Annual Report • Suggest future topics at questions@tenantlearningplatform.com Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: MJ4F8RUB1P9WUDKU

    Episode 58: Can you vacate a stipulation of settlement that you entered into in Housing Court if you later regret making the deal?
  2. 12/08/2025

    Episode 52: Breaking Your Lease Early, Seven Best Practices

    Michelle Itkowitz, here. I have news! A version of this show is now being distributed by a real podcast network. It’s a terrific opportunity that I’m very honored to have. The name of the new show is “Learn to Live Better, a Housing Law Podcast”. You know how at the end of every episode I say, “the law belongs to you, but your ownership of the law is only as great as your understanding of the law, so let’s learn to live better…” So, the name of the new show is Learn to Live Better, a Housing Law Podcast. I am now working with the Broadway Podcast Network, a vibrant community of more than 190 shows and 15,000 episodes reaching a global audience of 12 million listeners. BPN is NYC based, it’s young, about 7 years old, it’s got an arts and creativity focus (and that’s a lot of my audience), but there’s so much else on there - it’s business, it’s self-improvement, it’s got awesome scripted dramas. In 2025, one of BPN’s original programs won a Webby, that’s like an Academy Award for a podcast. I think BPN is the right partner to help me help New York City’s middle-class tenants at scale. Here’s the updated show description, which expresses what I’m trying to do here with this podcast project: “If things aren’t going right with your apartment, whether it’s something small or something big, it can throw you off in your career, your personal life, and your health. You want your energy going into your job, your business, your art, your family, your spiritual life, and the causes and people you care about, not into grappling with housing issues.” “Here's the thing. New York City tenants have more rights than tenants anywhere else in America. But NYC tenants also are shockingly uneducated about what those rights are. A right that you don’t know you have is the same as no right at all. And there are so many bits of incomplete information out there, peppered with urban myths about landlord-tenant law.” “This podcast will change all that. In each episode we look at current legal cases and statutes and the real-life apartment stories they give rise to here in the greatest city on earth. And every episode ends with a “Tenant Takeaway”, so you have actionable information to help you make better choices.” Thank you. I’ve been completely alone on this project for 2.5 years and more than 50 episodes. I come up with the ideas, I write the scripts, I’m the talent (such as it is), I’m the tech. I never spent one dime on advertising. I didn’t even do social media. I didn’t have guests to cross-market to their audiences. I didn’t even publish on a consistent schedule. I did pretty much everything contrary to best practices and everything by myself. Yet you gave me the stats that made it possible for a real network to take me seriously enough to give me a shot at hosting and distributing the show. I’ve never asked this community for anything: there’s no Patreon; there’s no merch. But I’m asking you now - if you would find Learn to Live Better, wherever you get your podcasts. Wherever you’re listening now to Tenant Law Podcast, Learn to Live Better will be there. There’s no app, there’s nothing to pay for. It’s just an additional feed. And then subscribe to Learn to Live Better and like it and give it a good review. But don’t stop subscribing here. So that’s what I’m asking, stay subscribed here and subscribe there as well, and please like, review, and share. And maybe mention the program on social media or wherever you think it is appropriate to get the word out to more New Yorkers, so this information can get into the hands of the people who need it. I’m dropping the first episode of Learn to Live Better here in this feed for your listening enjoyment (and viewing enjoyment if you want to watch there is video now, you don’t have to watch you can just listen), so here is “Breaking your Lease Early - Seven Best Practices.”

    Episode 52: Breaking Your Lease Early, Seven Best Practices
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

On the Tenant Law Podcast we examine new, interesting, and/or important legal cases and laws affecting New York City tenants. First, we give you some background, so you have the context to understand the topic that what we are discussing. Then, we talk about the case or the law. Finally, we give you a Tenant Takeaway! New York City, the law belongs to you. But your ownership of the law is only as great as your understanding of the law. So, let’s learn…to live better! Suggest topics at tenantlawpodcast@gmail.com. NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

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