Bronx Housing Court Buckles Under Mounting Delays

NYC’s busiest housing court has become ground zero for eviction gridlock, where cases now stretch months — sometimes more than a year — beyond legal targets.

Under pressure: On a recent morning, a Bronx judge faced nearly 60 cases before noon — part of what the state bar calls “cattle-call justice.” About 3% of residents face eviction filings each year, and while cases are meant to wrap in a month, it can take five months just to see a judge.

Pandemic aftershocks: Pandemic moratoriums and a 440% surge in filings afterward overwhelmed the courts. Right to Counsel has helped — nearly 9 in 10 represented tenants stayed housed in 2024 — but staffing shortages have cut representation to about 30%. Rental assistance that once took weeks now takes nearly a year, driving frequent adjournments.

Mounting financial strain: Delays are squeezing both sides. Affordable housing owners collected about 90% of rent in 2024, pushing many properties into negative cash flow. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 renters are severely rent-burdened, making arrears — and new filings — more common.

Fixing the bottleneck: Experts suggest adding judges, expanding fast-track options for small landlords and embedding social services at first appearances to speed aid. Prevention programs are growing, but the gap between rising costs and tenant incomes remains.

➥ THE TAKEAWAY

Costly delays: Bronx Housing Court reflects a broader imbalance: stronger tenant protections layered onto an under-resourced, high-cost system. Until capacity and housing economics align, delays will continue to shape NYC’s eviction landscape.

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