Tenant Resource Center

More than half of Center Square residents are tenants. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself as a tenant and get involved in the neighborhood.

Your Rights as an Albany Tenant

The City of Albany has many protections for available to tenants within city limits, codified in the Albany Renter’s Bill of Rights:

  1. Renters have the right to safe, livable, and sanitary homes.
  2. Renters have the right to make a housing complaint – without experiencing retaliation.
  3. Renters have the right to live free from discrimination in their housing.
  4. Renters cannot be required to give up their rights when they sign a lease.
  5. Renters may have the right to withhold rent in certain situations.
  6. Landlords must provide notice before raising your rent or changing your lease.
  7. Renters cannot be evicted without good cause, or without going to eviction court.
  8. Landlords must return tenants’ security deposits within 14 days, and any deductions must be itemized and in writing.
  9. Landlords may not enter a tenant’s home without proper notice.
  10. There are limits on the fees a landlord may charge if rent is late.

Your landlord is not fixing code violations?

Submit all maintenance requests in writing and keep copies. If your landlord does not respond:

  • File a housing complaint with the City of Albany Buildings & Regulatory Compliance Department
  • Contact United Tenants of Albany for counseling and next steps

If you have an after-hours code emergency (e.g., no heat, flooding, collapsed ceiling), contact the Albany Police Department at (518) 434-4000. They will be able to get in touch with the on-call code inspector. There is an inspector available 24/7, 365 days per year.

Resources

Get Involved in CSA

We encourage you to get involved in CSA! CSA business meetings are held the third Thursday of every other month; see the Calendar for details. All residents are welcome.

Parking

All residents of Center Square are eligible for residential parking permits, as well as a flexible guest permit. You’ll need proof of Center Square residency (e.g., a current lease or utility bill).

Need to reserve spaces for a moving truck, delivery, service vehicle or something short-term?

Call the City of Albany Traffic Engineering Division at (518) 434-5791 to reserve curbside spaces. Applicable fees apply.

  • Up to 3 spaces: $25
  • 4–9 spaces: $50
  • 10+ spaces: $100

Trash & Recycling

If your trash and recycling are picked up by the City of Albany Department of General Services, both are picked up Tuesday morning. Place bins curbside no earlier than 4:30pm the evening before. The Department of General Services also collects oversized items and yard waste and has electronics recycling programs. For more information and specifics, view this FAQ. Multi-unit apartments and condos use private trash and recycling services; in such a case, contact your building management for specifics.

Snow Removal

There’s nothing quite as gorgeous as a fresh snowfall in Center Square…until you trudge out to the coffee shop and cannot move. City ordinance puts the responsibility of clearing sidewalks on property owners. If you’re a tenant, check the terms of your lease for snow removal responsibilities. All sidewalks adjacent to properties must be cleaned within 24 hours of the completion of the storm, including handicap ramps. If this is not done, the property will be cleaned and the owner will receive a fine and a bill for the service performed.

Encounter a sidewalk that has not been cleared after 24 hours? See the next section!

Reporting Problems

Need to report issues to the City of Albany? Want to hear about other alerts, such as closed roads or pothole projects?

  • SeeClickFix: report potholes, graffiti, broken sidewalks, abandoned vehicles (also available as a smartphone app)
  • Report a street light issue
  • NIXLE: sign up for real-time text/email alerts from the Albany Police Department on incidents and road closures

Your Elected Representatives and Neighborhood Resources

Deirdre Brodie

City of Albany, 6th Ward Common Council Member

Susan Pedo

Albany County Legislator, 5th District

Kevin Reedy

Albany Police, Neighborhood Engagement Unit