How RentGuard works
From a paste to a plain-English risk read.
Five steps, zero login required, all sources cited.
Paste a NYC address or listing URLDrop in a StreetEasy or Zillow URL and we extract the address; or paste the address directly. We resolve it to a Borough-Block-Lot ID via the NYC GeoSearch API.
Pull live records from NYC.govWe query nine NYC Open Data sources for that BBL: HPD violations, HPD complaints, HPD multiple-dwelling registrations, DOB complaints, 311 housing complaints, marshal evictions, the bedbug registry, lead-paint history, and the Public Advocate Worst Landlord Watchlist.
Run a structured AI summaryA small, audited model (gpt-4o-mini) writes a renter-facing risk briefing in plain English. It opens with a short pattern lede naming the themes recurring across HPD violations, HPD complaints, DOB complaints, and 311 housing complaints (water leaks, mold, heat/hot water, plaster damage, fire safety, etc.), then lists the specific apartments that show up across multiple records. Counts ("12 open HPD violations") are cited from the raw data; the model never characterizes the building, owner, or manager beyond what the records literally say.
See your reportA 0-100 risk score with a color-coded band, "Notable findings", "Recommended next steps", and a per-source link for every indicator so you can verify every count on the original NYC.gov page.
Optional: review your leaseComing soon: upload your lease PDF for a $29 clause-by-clause review against NYC tenant law (HSTPA security deposit caps, FARE Act broker-fee rules, illegal late fees, and more). Preview is free; full report unlocks after payment.
What RentGuard does not do
We never tell you whether to rent.Every report says 'always check the cited records yourself before relying on anything in this summary.' The decision is yours.
We never label landlords or buildings.No first-party words like "slumlord", "scam", or "avoid". Only what the public record literally says, with a link to verify.
We are not a law firm.RentGuard is informational. For legal advice on a specific lease or dispute, talk to a licensed NY attorney.
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