Introduction the housing accommodations or a class of housing
accommodations within such municipality is less
A number of communities in New York State than five percent.
have rent regulation programs known as rent
control and rent stabilization. Two aspects of It is the responsibility of the locality to secure and
rent regulation are to protect tenants in privately- obtain a survey of the housing accommodations to
owned buildings from illegal rent increases and determine the existence of an emergency.
to allow owners to maintain their buildings while
realizing a reasonable profit. Prior to June 14, 2019, the rent laws provided for
the deregulation of apartments based on rents
Rent control is the older of the two systems of rent exceeding a certain threshold or based on the
regulation. It dates back to the housing shortage occupants’ income and rents exceeding certain
immediately following World War II and generally thresholds. Pursuant to HSTPA, these forms of
applies to buildings constructed before 1947. Rent deregulation were repealed as of June 14, 2019.
stabilization generally covers buildings built after
1947 and before 1974, and apartments removed RENT STABILIZATION
from rent control. It also covers buildings that
receive J-51, 421-a and 421-g tax benefits. These Rent stabilization provides protections to tenants
tax benefit programs have their own specific rules besides limitations on the amount of rent
as to which apartments are covered. Outside New increases. Tenants are entitled to receive required
York City, rent stabilization is also known as ETPA, services, to have their leases renewed, and may
short for the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, not be evicted except on grounds allowed by
and is applicable in select counties and localities law. Leases may be