All tenants have rights - link to Gothamist blog: Jake Dobkin

The Gothamist:  Should I be scared to ask my landlord for repairs in a super-cheap apartment? 

EXCERPT:   Our satanically complex housing law affords you many rights and protections. I emailed my dad, well-known tenants-rights lawyer Steve Dobkin, for more. He replied:

"Regardless of whether your apartment is rent controlled (highly unlikely)-rent stabilized-or rent subsidized, or none of the above, as a tenant in New York you have a right to a habitable apartment, and the landlord is responsible for providing basic services and necessary repairs. Don't worry about looking a gift horse in the mouth or pissing the landlord off. 

Click on the link for the full blog post.