Rent Stabilization

What is a Rent Stabilized apartment?

Rent stabilization is a form of rent regulation; it helps combat the City’s housing crisis by making sure some units remain affordable. Almost half of all apartments in New York City are rent stabilized. Rent stabilized apartments are most often located in buildings containing 6 or more units, which were built before 1974. If you live in a rent stabilized unit, you are entitled to additional protections and rights, so it is important to know your status.

Rent control is another form of rent regulation which also limits the rent an owner may charge for an apartment and restricts the right of any owner to evict tenants. The vast majority of rent regulated units in NYC are rent stabilized, rather than rent controlled.

How do I know if my apartment is rent stabilized? 

•  It may be written on your lease.
•  Your rent amount might not be a round number (for example, your rent might be $2176.43 instead of $2100).
•  Rent stabilization is reflected in your apartment’s rent history.

Request Your Rent History 

You can request your rent history to find out if your apartment is rent-regulated, or to prove that it is. To request your rent history, contact the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR)’s Office of Rent Administration by calling 718-739-6400 or emailing rentinfo@nyshcr.org. You can also visit the Rent Connect website. 

Rent history documents can be difficult to understand. Once you receive it, we recommend that you contact the Tenant Support Unit. We can help determine your stabilization status and check if you are being overcharged in rent.

If you live in a rent stabilized apartment, these are your rights: 

•  There is a legal limit to how much you can be charged in rent. Your rent can only be increased by a percentage that is decided on each year by the Rent Guidelines Board. In the Spring of 2023, the Rent Guidelines Board decided on rent changes that apply to rent stabilized leases starting on or after October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024.
  • Under the current guidelines, rent stabilized apartment leases can include rent increases of up to the following percentages:

• You have the right to renew your lease! This protects you from being evicted because of an expired or nonexistent lease. You can choose between a 1 or 2-year lease. If your landlord does not provide you with a renewal lease, you can submit a complaint with the Office of Rent Administration. Contact the Tenant Support Unit for support.
• If you live with certain family members in their rent stabilized unit, and they pass away or permanently leave the apartment, you may be able to take over the lease with “succession rights.”
• If you are an older adult or have a disability, you might qualify to freeze your rent. Learn more about Rent Freeze.