Tenants in New York City have the right to live in safe, habitable conditions, but sometimes landlords fail to meet these obligations. When a landlord’s actions or inaction make an apartment unlivable, tenants may face what is legally known as Constructive Eviction. This occurs when a tenant is forced to leave because of conditions such as lack of heat, persistent leaks, severe infestations, or unsafe structural issues. Unlike a typical eviction, constructive eviction arises not from unpaid rent but from a landlord’s neglect of their legal responsibilities.