By the MoveMatched editorial team · Last updated 2026-11-01
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official source or a licensed professional.
New York City's Rent Guidelines Board voted on June 25, 2026 to set a 0% increase for both one year and two year renewal leases on rent stabilized apartments. It applies to leases that start from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. It does not cap rent on market rate apartments. Here is how to tell which kind of apartment you have and what the freeze means if you are renewing or moving.
What exactly did the Rent Guidelines Board decide?
The Board's Apartment and Loft Order #58 sets the allowed increases for rent stabilized leases that begin between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027. For that window the guideline is 0% for a one year lease and 0% for a two year lease. The city's rent stabilization page lists the same numbers. Hotel units have a separate order, #56.
Leases that started before October 1, 2026 stay under the previous order. Landlord groups have challenged the vote in state court, so check the Board's site for the latest status before you rely on it.
Does the freeze apply to my apartment?
Only if your apartment is rent stabilized. That covers roughly one million apartments in the city, but most new listings you see online are market rate. A market rate landlord can still raise the rent at renewal as the lease and the law allow.
The freeze is also not the same as the city's Rent Freeze Program for older adults and people with disabilities, often called SCRIE and DRIE. That program freezes the rent for qualifying tenants through a tax credit to the landlord. It has its own application.
How do I check if my apartment is rent stabilized?
The city suggests three quick checks:
- Look at your lease. A stabilized lease usually says so.
- Look at the rent. An exact, non round amount can be a sign of stabilization.
- Ask for the rent history. New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) keeps it and mails it only to a current tenant or landlord.
How do I request my rent history?
Submit a request on the HCR portal at portal.hcr.ny.gov and choose Apartment rent history or Am I rent stabilized as the reason. You can also email HCR's rent information address listed on the city's rent stabilization page. Give the full building address, apartment number and ZIP code.
The history is mailed to the apartment. If the unit is not stabilized, nothing is mailed. For help, call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.
What rights do stabilized tenants have at renewal?
You can choose a one year or two year renewal lease on the same terms as your current lease, with the increase limited by the Board's guideline. If your landlord does not offer a renewal, you can file a complaint with HCR's Office of Rent Administration.
If you pay a preferential rent that is lower than the legal rent, and you had it on or after June 14, 2019, you keep it as long as you stay. Increases follow the Board's percentages.
I'm moving. What should I take from this?
If you hold a stabilized lease, a 0% renewal is worth comparing carefully against any new apartment, because your next landlord may not offer the same protection. Run the numbers with our rent vs buy calculator if you are also thinking about buying.
If you are searching now, ask every landlord or agent in writing whether the unit is stabilized, and ask for the lease rider that comes with a stabilized lease. Then confirm with the rent history after you move in.
Quick checklist before you renew or sign
- Find out if your unit is stabilized before your renewal notice arrives.
- Check that the renewal offer matches the 0% guideline if your lease starts on or after October 1, 2026.
- Keep copies of every lease and renewal you sign.
- If something looks wrong, contact HCR or call 311.
Questions people ask
- Is NYC rent frozen for everyone?
- No. The 0% guideline only covers rent stabilized apartments with leases starting October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Market rate apartments are not covered.
- Does the freeze cover two year leases?
- Yes. Order #58 sets 0% for both one year and two year stabilized leases in that window.
- How do I know if my apartment is rent stabilized?
- Check your lease, then request the rent history from New York State HCR. If the unit is not stabilized, no history is mailed.
- Is this the same as the Rent Freeze Program for seniors?
- No. SCRIE and DRIE are separate city programs for qualifying older adults and people with disabilities, with their own application.