NEWS AND EVENTS
RGB Passes Rent Increase
On June 19, despite a mass moblization of tenants demanding a rent freeze, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved rent increases for rent stabilized tenants of up to 4.5% on one year leases and up to 8.5% on two year leases. The RGB also decided that in the case of tenants who have lived in their apartments for six years or more, owners can raise the rents the approved percent increases or $45 a month for one year leases/$85 for two year leases, whichever amount is higher.
This higher increase for tenants who have lived in their apartments for six years or more was not part of the proposed range of increases approved by the Board at the preliminary vote on May 5, and the Board did not receive the 22-page memo from the RGB staff describing the proposed supplemental increase until the morning of the final vote. At the meeting, Adriene Holder, a tenant member of the RGB, asked that the supplemental increase be removed from consideration or that the final vote be postponed, since the RGB had not been given adequate time to review and discuss the proposal prior to the vote, a situation she described as a "procedural outrage." Her motion was rejected by the Board.
The rent increase that was passed is one of the largest rent increases in years, and it will disproportionately affect long-term tenants and lower-income tenants. This decision highlights the need to reform the process by which rent increases are determined. Please join Tenants & Neighbors and the Real Rent Reform Campaign in our efforts to reform the RGB. For more information about the campaign, contact Andres at 212-608-4320 extension 316.