The NYC Board of Directors will have a preliminary vote on a possible increase of almost 16% in the stabilized rent

NEW YORK — Although a final decision won’t be made until June, the nine-person Rent Guidelines Board will hold its preliminary vote on Tuesday on proposed rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments.

The possibility of a rise has prompted tenant advocates to urge the council not to raise rents for the roughly 1 million rent-stabilized flats, saying the prices paid by tenants are already too high.

The outcry over reports of these possible rent increases for rent-stabilized apartments has been swift despite the fact that no such action has taken place so far.

Rent in New York is one of the highest in the country, and now a proposal is to increase the rental price of rent-stabilized apartments by 15.75% for 2-year leases, The New York Times reported on April 20.

A panel appointed by Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the proposal that would affect about one million rent-stabilized apartments last month. It would be the biggest rent increase in New York in decades.

During last month’s hearing with the Rent Guidelines Board, representatives of the landlords of these apartments claimed that the high cost of living and inflation were the factors that had prompted the request for an increase .

Meanwhile, tenant advocates argued that the increase would simply prevent ordinary people from continuing to live in the Big Apple. An attendee at last month’s board meeting called those proposing such a raise “cold-blooded”.

According to a report from the board of directors, they plan to increase the rent from 6.6% to 15.75% for two-year leases and from 5.3% to 8.25% for a one-year lease . However, a spokesperson for the mayor said such an increase is unlikely, saying in part: “No increase recommended or passed has ever come close to that number, and this year will be no different. Groups that suggest otherwise raise fears of an irresponsible manner.”

Michael Tobman, director of memberships at the Rent Stabilization Association, a group representing thousands of landlords, most of whom own smaller buildings, says an increase is needed so those landlords can keep up with rising rental costs. maintenance, property taxes, insurance and energy. costs.

“When revenues don’t grow properly and responsibly, the whole system breaks down,” Tobman previously said.

However, tenant groups say landlords are already paid enough.

“What about the tenant paying 50% of their income for rent,” said Susan Steinberg, president of the Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association.

Responding to calls from landlord advocates to increase rents for rent-stabilized housing by up to 16%, the New York City Council’s progressive group said it was against such an increase, but instead urged the council to consider tenants above profits.

“We are united in strong opposition to any rent increases on rent-stabilized units by Mayor Adams’ Rent Guidelines Board. While we understand council may be reviewing all of the data in today’s operating cost price index report, we urge council to prioritize the city’s struggling tenants over profits owners,” the council said in a statement released on April 21. a dereliction of duty even to consider these incendiary numbers, especially in a time of rampant evictions, systemic stockpiling, and given last year’s rent increases of 3.25% for 1-year and 5-year leases. % for two-year leases”.

Another increase in rents would bring millions of low-income New Yorkers closer to eviction and homelessness, according to the Progressive Caucus.

Meanwhile, Sochie Nnaemeka, leader of the New York Working Families Party, shared similar sentiments.

Rosarina Breton informs us.

“The outrageous rent increases proposed by Mayor Adams’ Rental Guidelines Board would only fuel homelessness, displacement and push more families to the brink. We totally and unequivocally reject any further rent increases,” Nnaemeka said in a statement.

New Yorkers were quick to denounce the potential rise in rents for rent-stabilized apartments.

“Wages haven’t gone up, they’re not the same. How are we going to pay the rent? That’s a lot,” said Iada, a Washington Heights tenant who opposes such an increase.

“I think it’s awful,” Washington Heights’ Jose Faustino said of the proposal. “There should also be salary increases…then it would be leveled out, because buying food right now is very expensive.”

“I think it’s a bad idea because things aren’t going so well right now,” Washington Heights resident Belkis Batista said.

“It would be horrible because the current situation, especially for us poor people, we already have three, four jobs just to try to pay our rents,” said Victor Araujo, a Washington Heights tenant.

Steinberg also said an increase could end up putting tenants in a dangerous situation that could lead to the eviction of entire families, some of whom are already struggling to pay their rent.

“It can be fatal. It really can be fatal,” Steinberg said.

The council will continue to listen to public comments by June before making a decision.

While any decision made would relate to rent-stabilized units, it is unclear how this will affect the rent of units not subject to rent stabilization.