Rights of Tenants in NYC
Rent regulation laws have been renewed and strengthened.Here’s what you need to know.
In an extended session, the State legislature acted to renew and strengthen rent regulation laws for four more years. Key changes include:
- An increase in both the vacancy and high-income decontrol thresholds from $2,500 to $2,700 indexed to one year annual Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) increases beginning January 1, 2016;
- Limits on vacancy allowances in apartments with "preferential rents," which are rents charged below the legal rent;
- Limits on the amount of rent that landlords can charge tenants in order to receive reimbursement for Major Capital Improvements (MCIs) by extending the period that landlords can recover those costs from 84 months to 108 months for buildings over 35 units and 84 months to 96 months for buildings under 35 units; and
- An increase in civil penalties for landlords who harass tenants.
In New York City, tenants have many rights relating to the safety and quality of their housing. Many of the requirements that landlords have to follow related to the physical quality of housing are part of the Housing Maintenance Code, which HPD enforces. However, there are also other City, State and Federal laws and agencies involved in regulating whether tenants can be required to leave an apartment, when and by how much rent can be raised, and how tenants can ensure that their rights are protected.
It is important that tenants understand both their rights and responsibilities. These pages help to explain some of the rights you have as a tenant and will refer you to resources that will help you to understand and exercise those rights.
It is important that tenants understand both their rights and responsibilities. These pages help to explain some of the rights you have as a tenant and will refer you to resources, such as the ABCs of Housing, that will help you to understand and exercise those rights.
