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Adjustment Application Form - A form for owners/agents if there is an updated fuel cost (FCA) or Maximum Collectible Rent (MCR). This form may also be submitted if you would like to request an adjustment to a tenant’s TAC amount due to a Major Capital Improvement (MCI), J-51 reduction, or a rent discrepancy.

Approval / Denial / Revocation Order -The notice that Department of Finance sends to tell landlords and managing agents the status of a tenant’s application: approved, denied or revoked.

Boarder - Someone who pays rent to live in the apartment and who is not a relative of the tenant of record. Boarders are not eligible for a Benefit Takeover. Since a boarder's income is not included in calculating household income, the tenant is not eligible for a rent redetermination if a boarder leaves.

DHCR (NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal) - The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the agency responsible for administering the rent regulatory laws of New York State.

Docket Number - The unique identification number assigned to each SCRIE/DRIE applicant. This is the easiest way to refer to your tenant with the Department of Finance.

DRIE - Disability Rent Increase Exemption provides eligible renters receiving federal disability compensation an exemption from paying most rent increases.

Eligible Apartments - Rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments as well as apartments owned by a limited dividend housing company, a redevelopment company or a housing development fund company incorporated under the Private Housing Finance Law, a Cooperative Housing Company established under section 213 of the National Housing Act or a Mitchell Lama apartment or co-op administered by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) are eligible for DRIE benefits. The New York City Department of Finance processes all DRIE applications for eligible apartments as well as SCRIE applications for rent-controlled apartments and rent-stabilized apartments.  HPD processes SCRIE applications for apartments owned by a limited dividend housing company, a redevelopment company or a housing development fund company incorporated under the Private Housing Finance Law, a Cooperative Housing Company established under section 213 of the National Housing Act or a Mitchell Lama apartment or co-op administered by HPD.

Exemption Rent Increase - A rent increase authorized by the Rent Guidelines Board or DHCR to be exempted under DRIE and SCRIE or an increase in maximum rent to be exempted under DRIE and SCRIE. Examples: Major Capital Improvement, Fuel Cost Adjustment, Maximum Base Rent increases, capital assessments or voluntary capital contributions.

Exemption Period - The period covered by your tenant’s DRIE/SCRIE rent exemption.

Finance - New York City Department of Finance, the agency that administers the SCRIE and DRIE program.

Frozen Rent - The amount of rent the tenant must pay the landlord.

Fuel Cost Adjustment Increase - An increase to cover a rise in the price of heating fuel during the previous year. Must be verified by DHCR.

Household Income - The income of every member of the household. A member of the household is the head of the household and all persons permanently residing in the apartment except for bona fide roomers, boarders or subtenants.  All relatives of the head of the household residing in the apartment are members of the household.  Bona fide roomers, boarder or subtenants are persons who are non-family members who pay rent to reside in the apartment. If you rent a room to someone (see Boarder), you should not include their income in household income but you must include the amount they pay you for rent as part of your income.

Landlord / Managing Agent Notification of Tenant's Ineligibility - A form for landlords and managing agents to notify the SCRIE/DRIE program of tenants who are no longer eligible to receive SCRIE/DRIE due to events such as the death of the tenant of record.

Legal Rent - The maximum rent that a landlord can charge a tenant for a rent-regulated unit. The landlord must annually register that legal rent with DHCR.

Major Capital Improvement (MCI) - An increase authorized by DHCR to compensate a landlord for the cost of building-wide renovations, such as a new roof or boiler. MCI increases are not granted for improvements to individual apartments.

Maximum Base Rent (MBR) Increase - The highest amount a landlord can raise the rent as authorized by DHCR for rent-controlled apartments.

Maximum Collectible Rent - The highest amount a landlord can raise the rent as authorized by DHCR for rent-controlled apartments.

Mitchell-Lama - An apartment type governed by Article II of the Private Finance Housing Law.

Owner Approval / Denial / Revocation Notice - The notice that the Department of Finance sends landlords or managing agents about the status of a tenant’s application: approved, denied or revoked.

Preferential Rent - Rent charged by an owner to a tenant that is less than the established legal regulated rent.

Property Change Form Managing Agent of Building Owner Information - This form is used to correct error or request changes to the information on SCRIE/DRIE Tax Abatement Credit (TAC) reports.

Rent Controlled Apartment - Residential units with limits on the amount a landlord can charge a tenant for rent. To qualify for rent control, a tenant (or their lawful successor such as a family member, spouse, or adult lifetime partner) must have been living continuously in an apartment since before July 1, 1971.

Rent Demand Renewal - Rent increases for regulated hotel units as determined by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board.

Rent Regulated Apartment or Unit - An apartment or housing unit that is either rent-controlled or rent-stabilized.

Rent Regulated Hotel Unit - A  hotel unit that is rent-stabilized.

Rent Stabilized Apartment - Residential units regulated by law so that rent increases may not exceed a specified amount. In NYC it is regulated by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board.

SCRIE - Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption; provides eligible seniors age 62 and over an exemption from paying most rent increases.

Succession Letter - A letter written by a landlord indicating that a household member has succession rights to an apartment of the former/previous primary tenant of record.

Succession Rights - The conditions under which one person succeeds another person after the latter either dies or permanently leaves a rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartment.

TAC - Tax Abatement Credit. The amount credited on a landlord’s property tax bill for SCRIE or DRIE..

TAC Report - The Department of Finance keeps a SCRIE/DRIE account for each building owner or landlord to track TAC credits and debits. DOF applies credits from the building owner or landlord’s account to offset any taxes due the next tax period. The building owner or landlord receives a quarterly Statement of Account reflecting credit or debit activity.

Tax Abatement Credit (TAC) Adjustment Application Form
A form for owners/managing agents to fill out if there is an updated fuel cost (FCA) or Maximum Collectible Rent (MCR). This form may also be submitted if you would like to request an adjustment to a tenant’s TAC amount due to a Major Capital Improvement (MCI), J-51 reduction, or a rent discrepancy.

Major Capital Improvement (MCI) increases are covered for all active eligible SCRIE and DRIE tenants. Owners/agents can submit a copy of the approved MCI order along with the SCRIE/DRIE Tax Abatement Credit (TAC) Adjustment form to receive credit for their qualified tenants. For more information click here.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When is an MCI increase paid by SCRIE/DRIE?
   If the MCI issue date is within 90 days of the SCRIE/DRIE initial application receipt date, the entire MCI is covered by SCRIE/DRIE. 
2. When is an MCI increase NOT paid by SCRIE/DRIE?
   If the MCI issue date is not within 90 days of the SCRIE/DRIE initial application receipt date then any MCI retroactive charges are not covered by SCRIE/DRIE. In addition any MCI charges required to be collected in installments due to the 6% or 15% limitations may affect the calculated tenant to pay (CTTP) or tenant’s frozen rent amount.
   
   Typically, any MCI installments scheduled to be collectible after a tenant’s benefits are approved will be covered by the SCRIE/DRIE program.

Sample Renewal Lease (Sections 1 - 5)