Rent Increases

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The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is mandated by law to establish yearly rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. The board holds an annual series of public meetings and hearings to consider research from staff and testimony from owners, tenants, advocacy groups, and industry experts.

The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) recently updated its website with the necessary forms you have to fill out to start the process for increasing the rents of your rent-controlled apartments during the 2018-19 maximum base rent (MBR) cycle. Once you receive the orders of eligibility, you can raise your MBRs by 7.4 percent over their 2016–17 levels. The MBR increase for this cycle is lower than the 9.6 percent increase used in 2016–17.

The rents in rent-controlled apartments in New York City are governed by the Maximum Base Rent (MBR) system. This system is based on a mathematical formula for computing the maximum rent levels for each controlled apartment in the city. This theoretical MBR represents an approximation of the actual income required to operate the housing unit under current costs, including an 8.5 percent return on the equalized assessed value. The MBR is adjusted every two years to reflect changes in economic conditions.

When you get a major capital improvement (MCI) performed at your building, you may have non-construction expenses such as general contractor or architect/engineer fees related to the underlying MCI project. For example, you may hire an engineer when you get your building’s parapet replaced. But can you include the engineer’s or architect’s fees as part of the cost of the MCI when you calculate your rent increase?

If you sign a vacancy lease with a tenant between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018, the new order issued on June 27 by the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB)—RGBO #49—lets you collect the vacancy increases permitted under the Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 (RRRA).

On June 27, 2017, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) issued an order—RGBO #49—setting the rent increases you may take for rent-stabilized tenants in New York City on leases beginning anytime on or after Oct. 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2018. This order represents the first hike on one-year renewal leases after two years of rent freezes by the board.

If you sign a vacancy lease with a tenant between Oct. 1, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2017, the new order issued on June 27 by the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB)—RGBO #48—lets you collect the vacancy increases permitted under the Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 (RRRA).

In May 2016, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) issued a processing directive allowing applications for a rent increase for installing accessibility ramps as a major capital improvement (MCI). An MCI is a permanent increase in rent for a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled tenant, based on money spent by the owner on building-wide improvements or on replacing a major building system.

On June 27, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) voted for a 0 percent increase on one-year leases, and a 2 percent increase on two-year leases. The nine-member board voted 7-0, with two abstentions from the members representing the interests of landlords, to approve a 0 percent increase on one-year leases, and a 2 percent increase on two-year leases. This is the same decision as last year.

When you make improvements, such as installing a new refrigerator or replacing flooring, to your rent-regulated apartments, you’re allowed an “Individual Apartment Improvement Rent Increase.” This increase is in addition to vacancy increases allowed by law or the regular annual Rent Guidelines Board adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments, and biennial adjustments to Maximum Base Rents for rent-controlled apartments.