Haverstraw Town, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 128 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 128-4
Collection of rent
Operative Text
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or otherwise, no owner, landlord or other person exercising dominion and control over property determined to be occupied in violation of this chapter may recover any rent or other sum for the use and occupancy of such property in the Town, unless the landlord shall establish: (1) That the use of the premises were permitted to be used, during the period for which rent or use and occupancy is sought to be recovered, for the use being made of the premises; (2) That the landlord delivered to the tenant a written receipt in exchange for any rent payment received by the landlord in cash, as evidenced by a copy thereof maintained by the landlord bearing the signature of the tenant. B. The issuance of a rental permit from the Town shall constitute prima facie evidence in any proceeding to collect rent or charges for use and occupancy that the premises are legal for rent or occupancy to the extent reflected in such permit.
Section 128-4 of Haverstraw Town's Code of Ordinances establishes conditions under which rent can legally be collected for residential property. An owner or landlord cannot recover rent or use-and-occupancy charges for a property found to be occupied in violation of the chapter unless they can show the premises were properly permitted for that use during the relevant period and that written, signed receipts were provided for any cash payments. A valid rental permit issued by the Town serves as prima facie evidence that the property is legal for rent or occupancy to the extent described in the permit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 128-4, compliant operators in Haverstraw Town generally maintain a current rental permit from the Town, ensure the property is authorized for the specific use being made of it, and issue written receipts for every cash rent payment received—retaining signed copies. Without satisfying these requirements, a landlord may be barred from recovering rent or use-and-occupancy charges in any collection proceeding. Keeping organized records of permits and signed receipts is a standard practice for demonstrating compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 128-4 provides tenants with a potential defense in any proceeding where a landlord seeks to collect rent or use-and-occupancy charges: if the property was occupied in violation of the chapter and the landlord cannot prove proper permitting or cannot produce signed cash-receipt copies, the landlord's ability to recover those amounts may be limited. Tenants who believe a landlord is attempting to collect rent for an unpermitted or improperly used property may raise this provision as a defense in a relevant proceeding. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing the Town's rental permit records can help clarify whether a property holds a valid permit under § 128-4.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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