Rental Property Rules in New York, NY (2026)
11 verified rental property rules for New York, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
NYC has the nation's most extensive rent regulation system. Rent stabilization (Admin Code §26-501 et seq.) covers approximately 1 million apartments in buildings with 6+ units built before 1974. Rent control (NYC Rent and Rehabilitation Law) covers a smaller number of pre-1947 tenants. The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 strengthened protections significantly.
New York City Rent Control and Rent Stabilization
Heavy RestrictionsJust Cause Eviction
NYC provides strong eviction protections through the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) and the Housing Court. Rent-stabilized tenants have a right to renewal leases and can only be evicted for specific causes under Rent Stabilization Code §2524.3. The COVID-era ERAP and Good Cause Eviction law (2024) expanded protections statewide.
New York City Just Cause Eviction Protections
Heavy RestrictionsRental Registration
Owners of rent-stabilized apartments must register with the DHCR annually under Rent Stabilization Code §2528. Registration includes reporting the legal regulated rent for each unit. NYC also requires landlord registration with HPD under the Multiple Dwelling Registration program (Admin Code §27-2097).
New York City Rental Registration Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
New York City provides relocation help in two main scenarios: HPD or DOB vacate orders trigger Local Law 17 emergency relocation, and rent-stabilized owner-use or demolition evictions can trigger statutory stipends and replacement-housing duties under the Rent Stabilization Code.
Relocation Aid for Vacate Orders and Owner-Use Evictions
Heavy RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
New York General Obligations Law §7-108, amended by HSTPA in 2019, caps residential security deposits at one month's rent statewide and requires the landlord to return the deposit, with itemized deductions, within fourteen days after the tenant moves out.
Security Deposits Capped at One Month, Returned in Fourteen Days
Heavy RestrictionsCash-for-Keys Agreements
New York City has no Los-Angeles-style buyout disclosure program, so cash-for-keys offers are legal in principle. They become illegal when used to harass or pressure rent-regulated tenants, exposing the landlord to NYC Tenant Protection Act penalties.
Buyout Offers Allowed but Limited by Anti-Harassment Rules
Some RestrictionsNo-Fault Evictions
Under HSTPA 2019 and the Rent Stabilization Code, a landlord of a regulated NYC unit may end a tenancy without tenant fault only for owner or immediate-family occupancy, demolition, withdrawal under DHCR rules, or government vacate orders. Each path requires DHCR or HPD process.
No-Fault Removal Limited to Owner Use, Demolition, and Vacate Orders
Heavy RestrictionsPass-Through Charges
Major Capital Improvement and Individual Apartment Improvement increases for rent-stabilized NYC units are tightly capped by HSTPA 2019. MCI hikes are limited to 2 percent per year and expire after thirty years. IAI increases are capped at $89.29 per month, lifetime.
MCI and IAI Rent Increases Sharply Restricted After HSTPA
Some RestrictionsTenant Anti-Harassment
NYC Admin Code §27-2004 and §27-2005, the Tenant Protection Act, make it unlawful for a landlord to engage in conduct intended to force a tenant to vacate. Civil penalties run $2,000 to $10,000 per violation, with stronger penalties in distressed neighborhoods.
Tenant Harassment Banned by NYC Tenant Protection Act
Heavy RestrictionsSource-of-Income Discrimination
The NYC Human Rights Law, NYC Admin Code §8-107(5), makes it unlawful for a landlord, broker, or building agent to refuse to rent to anyone because they pay with a Section 8 voucher, CityFHEPS, SSI, child support, or other lawful income source.
Source of Income Discrimination Banned Under NYCHRL
Heavy RestrictionsSection 8 Voucher Acceptance
NYCHA and HPD administer Housing Choice Vouchers in New York City. Under NYC Human Rights Law §8-107(5), refusing to rent to a Section 8 voucher holder, or imposing extra fees, is unlawful source-of-income discrimination.
Section 8 Voucher Holders Protected by City Human Rights Law
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for New York County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New York city rules.
Rental Property Rules in New York County →