Hello! I'm your AI assistant, Teny. Ask me about tenants' rights in upstate New York!
User Agreement
PURPOSE: I understand that Teny 2.0 is a tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that answers each question asked about the Tenants’ Rights Guide in a question-and-answer (Q&A) format. It is designed to help residential tenants in upstate New York learn their rights in a more digestible manner. A response can generally explain tenants’ rights, legal concepts and terminology, as well as standard procedures in landlord-tenant law. This information may not apply to tenants in New York City or Long Island. Unlike other AI tools, it is not conversational and cannot respond based on a question I asked previously.
SOURCE: I understand that this tool does not source from random unvetted information across the internet. All information provided is based solely on the Tenants’ Rights Guide, which is updated every academic semester by the Cornell Law School Tenants Advocacy Program. It was last updated in September 2025.
LIMITS OF AI: Responses are stored and reviewed by the Cornell Law School Tenants Advocacy Program for accuracy, but each individual response may not be immediately reviewed by an attorney. Some responses may be wrong and/or incomplete, so I agree to independently verify all responses. I will assume any risk of inaccuracy.
NO LEGAL ADVICE: I understand that the responses provided are for general informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice. This tool is not a real lawyer advising me. It does not replace a real lawyer, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Responses may not apply to my specific situation. I agree not to solicit legal advice from the tool. For specific legal advice, I will call the Cornell Law School Tenants Advocacy Program Hotline at 607-301-1560. If I am an Ithaca tenant in a legal emergency, I will call LawNY at (607) 273-3667.
PRIVACY: To protect my security, I will not share any confidential or personal identifiable information. The privacy policy is available here for more information.
Driston Galvao is the Legal Fellow for the Tenants Advocacy Program, where he serves as a dedicated tenants’ rights advocate who is passionate about ensuring safe and fair housing for all. Driston earned his B.A. from Tufts University and his J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he was a participant in the Tenants Advocacy Practicum. This experience solidified his passion for housing justice and his commitment to advancing access to justice for all. In his current role, Driston assists tenants with a wide array of landlord-tenant law needs, from habitability claims and lease disputes to illegal lockouts and evictions. In addition to this direct client advocacy, Driston leads the program’s tech team. He is currently spearheading the development of an innovative artificial intelligence tool designed to democratize access to legal information, providing helpful, immediate answers to tenants with questions about their rights. Driston is admitted to the Massachusetts bar.
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