Rent control rules in New York, NY — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
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.
NYC's rent regulation system has two components. Rent control applies to tenants (or their successors) who have continuously occupied apartments in buildings built before February 1, 1947 since before July 1, 1971. Only a few tens of thousands of units remain rent-controlled, and the number decreases through vacancy decontrol. Rent stabilization is far more extensive, covering approximately 1 million apartments in buildings with 6+ units built before January 1, 1974, plus buildings receiving certain tax benefits (421-a, J-51). The NYC Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) sets annual rent increase percentages for stabilized apartments. The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA) eliminated vacancy decontrol (previously at $2,774/month), ended vacancy bonuses and longevity increases, capped Individual Apartment Improvements at $15,000 over 15 years, and strengthened enforcement. The DHCR (Division of Housing and Community Renewal) administers rent regulation statewide. Tenants can verify their apartment's status through DHCR records.
Overcharging rent-stabilized tenants: treble damages plus attorney fees under HSTPA. Failure to register with DHCR: $500 per unit per year. Harassment of regulated tenants: civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation. Illegal deregulation: rent rollback and penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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