As this tenants’ rights blog and myriad other information sources across New York City routinely note, bad-faith landlords — both individual and large commercial real estate operators — have many arrows in their figurative quiver when it comes to harassing and intimidating renters.

And their clear objective in doing so is revealed time and again, namely this: to evict individuals and families living in rent-stabilized units in order execute new leases with other parties at higher rental rates.

In such a context, landlord motivation is necessarily under a strong spotlight. Although local and state laws enumerate certain conditions under which a landlord can terminate a rent-stabilized lease and newly rent a dwelling at any amount the market supports, many tactics employed by landlords to oust tenants are flatly unlawful.

It is imperative for any city tenant who is under pressure from a landlord’s actions that reasonably seem to be based upon unlawful behavior aimed at eviction to promptly contact a proven tenants’ rights and eviction prevention attorney. Experienced and aggressive advocacy can put a stop to illegal conduct and help ensure that a tenant’s housing rights are acknowledged and fully protected.

Troubling landlord-related stories routinely surface across the city, with one recent development spotlighting in a high-profile manner the attempt of one landlord and his agents to oust tenants from rent-stabilized units in an East Harlem building through threats of deportation.

That alleged behavior (which reportedly included one individual impersonating an immigration official) has properly brought an aggressive response, with tenant plaintiffs responding to what they called a “relentless campaign of discrimination” by filing a civil lawsuit against the landlord.

City officials have taken due notice of the matter, with one spokesperson stating that the mayor’s officer takes allegations of housing-related discrimination based on immigration status “incredibly seriously.”