Rent-stabilized tenant rights
Rent stabilization is not just about the rent — it is a bundle of protections that give tenants stability. If your apartment is stabilized, here are the core rights you have.
The right to renew your lease
Your landlord generally must offer you a renewal lease, on the same terms, with a choice of a 1-year or 2-year term. They cannot refuse to renew simply to raise the rent or bring in a market tenant. Renewals come on an official DHCR renewal form.
Capped rent increases
Increases on renewal are limited to the percentage set each year by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board — not whatever the landlord wants. Check the current RGB order for this year's figure. See our guide to lease renewals and rent increases.
Succession rights
Certain family members who have lived with you can "succeed" to the lease when you move out or pass away — keeping the apartment and its stabilized status — if they meet the co-residency requirements. This is one of the most valuable and least-understood protections.
Required services and repairs
Your landlord must maintain the same services that came with the apartment: heat and hot water, working appliances, and timely repairs. A failure to maintain services can be the basis for a rent reduction through DHCR. You can look up a building's open HPD violations on its Find A Crib page to see its repair record.
Protection from overcharge
If a landlord charges more than the legal regulated rent, you may file an overcharge complaint with DHCR and can be entitled to a refund (and, in some cases, damages). Your rent history is the key document — learn how to request it.
Where to get help
If you believe your rights are being violated, contact DHCR, a tenant attorney, or a legal-aid organization. Do not rely solely on this page — it is general information, not legal advice.
🔎 Check any building on the Find A Crib map →Official sources
- NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR/DHCR) — Rent Regulation
- NYC Rent Guidelines Board — current annual increase orders
- NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD)
- Met Council on Housing — tenant help
Find A Crib is an informational tool, not a law firm. This guide is general information about NYC rent stabilization, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact DHCR or a tenant attorney/legal-aid group.