In New York City, almost half of all rental apartments are rent stabilized, which grant tenants legal protections in how much rent can go up each year and how long they can rent the apartment.
Basically, the landlord of a rent stabilized apartment is legally prohibited from hiking up the rent or pushing tenants out. Rent stabilized leases can provide peace of mind for many New York City renters.
This guide will walk you through how to figure out if your apartment qualifies for these protections.
How to know if your apartment is rent stabilized
Check your lease: If your apartment is rent stabilized, your landlord is supposed to attach to your lease the rent stabilization lease rider. The document informs you of your rights and responsibilities as a rent stabilized tenant.
If you are touring the apartment and haven’t yet signed a lease, don’t forget to ask upfront if it is rent stabilized.
With a rent stabilized apartment, the rent amount might not be a round number (for example, rent might be $2,176.43 instead of $2,100). This happens because at a stabilized apartment, the rent goes up by a percentage every year or every two years, the NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit explains.
You can check out Am I Rent Stabilized, a website that maps properties that are likely to be rent stabilized properties. Most of the time, these buildings have six or more units and were built before 1974. But for a confirmed answer, you must contact Housing and Community Renewal Office of Rent Administration.
Request your official rent history: To be 100% sure if your current apartment is rent stabilized, request the rental history of the apartment. You can do that for free using this link.
When filling the form, under “reason” select “apartment rent history” or “am I rent stabilized?” Both will get you the same result.
Include your first and last name, email address (if you don’t have an email address, write n/a), and select the building address, including the unit or apartment number and ZIP code.
Another option is to email rentinfo@nyshcr.org. When requesting a rent history, provide the full address, including the apartment number. Here is a sample of the email you can send:
“Dear Homes and Community Renewal Office of Rent Administration,
I am requesting the rent history for my apartment. Please find the details below:
Property address: [Full street address]
Apartment number: [Apartment number]
Borough: [Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island]
I am the current tenant and would like to review the rent history to understand my apartment’s rent stabilization status and rental history.
Please let me know if you need any additional information or documentation to process this request.”
For phone, call 833-499-0343, listen for the menu option to request your rent history, and stay on the line. You do not need to provide your name or an email address.
Understanding your results
If your apartment is rent stabilized, HCR will send you the apartment’s rent history in the mail at the address you shared in your request. If your apartment is not rent stabilized, you will not receive anything in the mail.
Once you receive the rental history, you can contact the Tenant Support Unit by calling 311 and asking for the tenant helpline. They can help determine if you are being overcharged in rent. You can also reach them through their portal, and they’ll send an email back within 20 business days.
Can I get a rent increase if my apartment is already rent stabilized?
Yes, but there’s a legal limit to rent increases. The Rent Guidelines Board determines the allowable percentage increase annually.
Under the current guidelines for leases starting between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, rent stabilized apartment leases can include rent increases of up to the following percentages:
- 1-year lease: 3% maximum increase
- 2-year lease: 4.5% maximum increase
What if you discover your apartment is rent stabilized but your landlord is overcharging you?
If you believe you are in this situation, know there are solutions available. The first step is to file a complaint following this form. Housing and Community Renewal may require your landlord to decrease your rent and give you a refund if they overcharged you.
More rights as a tenant with a rent stabilized apartment
- Landlords are required to give you the option to renew your lease every year or two years.
- If a landlord fails to offer a renewal, tenants can file a complaint with the Office of Rent Administration and seek assistance from the Tenant Support Unit.
- If you live with family members in a rent-stabilized apartment, you might be able to take over their lease through “succession rights” if they pass away or permanently leave the unit.
- If you are an older adult or have a disability, you might be eligible for a rent freeze if you live in a rent stabilized apartment. Further details on the NYC Rent Freeze program are available here.
