Liberty Village, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 43 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 43-4
Contract or lease agreements
Operative Text
This local law may be varied only by express written contract or lease entered into by the parties; provided, however, that any such provision in any contract or lease shall be void and unenforceable if the contract or lease as a whole is unconscionable, considering the background and circumstances in existence at the time said contract or lease was made and the relative bargaining power of the parties to the contract or lease.
Liberty Village, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 43 § 43-4 establishes that the default rules set by this local law can be altered, but only through an explicit written agreement—verbal modifications or informal understandings carry no legal weight. Even when a written contract or lease does attempt to change those rules, any such modification is rendered void and unenforceable if the overall agreement is found to be unconscionable. The unconscionability analysis looks at the circumstances at the time the agreement was made and the relative bargaining power each party held.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 43 § 43-4, operators who wish to modify the default protections of this local law must do so through a clearly written contract or lease provision—oral side agreements are insufficient. Compliant operators also ensure that any such modifications are negotiated in a manner that reflects a fair bargaining process, since courts or adjudicators may void provisions embedded in agreements deemed unconscionable. Documenting the circumstances and context under which lease terms were negotiated is a practice generally associated with maintaining enforceable agreements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ch. 43 § 43-4 means that a landlord cannot rely on an informal or verbal agreement to override the protections this local law provides—only an express written contract or lease can do that. Even then, if the written agreement as a whole is unconscionable given the circumstances at signing and any imbalance in bargaining power, the offending provision may be unenforceable. Tenants who believe a lease modification was imposed under unfair conditions may consider raising unconscionability as a defense in a dispute, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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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