My roommate is the only one on the lease. There are 3 other people in the household besides her. We have been paying rent directly to the landlord for the past year and a half. A few days ago she informed the rest of the household that we have 30 days to vacate the apartment due to "tension" and an "uncomfortable living situation." Not a single other person in the house had any idea that this had been going on. It seems as though her lack of communication skills has been building up for several months and has now materialized in her trying to force us out. Can she do this? Do we have any rights that New York protects? None of us want to leave this apartment and this came out of nowhere. What are our options?

If you do not have a lease, you are on a month to month rental. ( appears to be verbal) So yes they can give you a 30 day notice to move out.

Look for somewhere fast, talk to her and see if she will talk about the issue