Tenants Rights Guide

• Teny is Not a Lawyer: The answers you get from Teny are for general information only. Teny cannot give you legal advice, and using this chatbot does not create an attorney-client relationship.
• Who Teny is For (Jurisdiction): Teny’s knowledge is strictly for residential (non-commercial) tenants living in upstate New York. The information does not apply to renters in New York City or Long Island. The laws in individual counties, cities, and towns may vary.
• The Limits of AI: Because Teny is an AI-powered tool, its responses are generated by a computer and are not individually reviewed by an attorney before you see them. AI can sometimes make mistakes, hallucinate, or leave out important details. You should always use this tool at your own risk and verify the information yourself.
• Protect Your Privacy: Please do not type any personal, private, or confidential information (such as your name, address, or financial details) into the chatbot.
• When to Get Human Help: If you are facing a legal emergency—like an immediate eviction—do not rely solely on Teny. Please contact a legal professional or reach out to the resources listed in the Introduction above, such as LawNY or the Tenants Advocacy Program.

When using Teny, please do not type any personal, private, or confidential information into the chat. This includes your name, your exact address, your Social Security number, your bank or financial details, or the name of your landlord.

Here is why keeping your information private is so important:

• No Attorney-Client Privilege: When you speak privately with a hired lawyer, your conversation is legally protected and kept secret. Because Teny is a computer program and not a lawyer, your conversations are not protected by this privilege. In a legal dispute (like an eviction case), it is possible that the things you type into the chatbot could be discovered and used against you in court.
• Third-Party Servers and AI: Teny is powered by outside technology companies, including JosefQ and the artificial intelligence models they use. When you ask a question, your text is sent over the internet to their computer servers to generate an answer. Your information does not stay solely with the Tenants Advocacy Program.
• System Monitoring and Review: To make sure Teny is working correctly and giving helpful answers, the developers and staff may read the history of questions asked by users. Keeping your questions general ensures that no one accidentally reads your private details.
• Data Security Risks: Like any website or online tool, there is always a small risk of data breaches or hacking. The best way to protect your identity online is to avoid sharing sensitive information in the first place.

How to Ask Safe Questions: Instead of saying, “My landlord John Smith at 123 Main St in Ithaca is keeping my $1,000 security deposit,” you should ask, “What are my rights if a landlord in Ithaca refuses to return a security deposit?”