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DHCR Fact Sheets

The material in these 43 fact sheets was produced by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), the state agency responsible for administering the rent regulation laws. The fact sheets provide information that is particularly useful to regulated tenants and owners. The New York City Rent Guidelines Board has republished the content of these fact sheets in a slightly different format.

Please note that DHCR may have more recent versions of their fact sheets on the DHCR Web site. The DHCR Web site also has downloadable pdf versions of each of their fact sheets. Fact Sheets and are also available on the DHCR Web site en Español - Hojas Informativas. For additional information, or for answers to your questions, send email to the Staff of the NYC Rent Guidelines Board or call the appropriate DHCR office.

List of Fact Sheets, in alphabetical order:

List of Fact Sheets, with content summaries:
  • Rent Stabilization Lease Rider - Landlords are required to attach this rider to new and renewal leases. It informs Rent Stabilized Tenants of their legal rights.
  • Preferential Rents - Discusses preferential rent, which is a rent which an owner agrees to charge that is lower than the legal regulated rent that the owner could lawfully collect.
  • Harassment -No owner or anyone acting for the owner may interfere with a tenant's privacy, comfort, or quiet enjoyment of the tenant's apartment. Interference includes reducing services or engaging in baseless court proceedings.
  • Sublets, Assignments and Illusory Tenancies - Procedures for subletting a rent stabilized apartment, conditions under which an owner can refuse to let a tenant sublet, rents which can be charged for sublet apartments, and assignment of leases.
  • Security Deposit - Amount which can be charged as a security deposit in rent regulated apartments, interest on security deposits, security deposit and last month's rent.
  • Demolition - Owner requirements and tenant protections when a landlord applies to DHCR to demolish a rent stabilized or rent controlled property.
  • Succession Rights - For rent stabilized and rent controlled apartments, any "family member" of the tenant may have the right to a renewal lease (rent stabilization) or protection from eviction (rent control) when the tenant dies or permanently leaves the apartment. Rules used by DHCR on whether you can take over an apartment lease.
  • Rent Reductions For Decreased Services - Owners of rent stabilized buildings must maintain building services. If they fail to do so tenants can file for a rent reduction for decreased services.
  • Heat and Hot Water - Describes conditions under which heat and hot water must be provided in ALL New York City apartments and rent regulated tenants' ability to file for rent reductions if services not provided.
  • Fair Market Rent Appeals (FMRAs) - Rent increases owners can charge after a rent CONTROLLED apartment becomes vacant, challenges tenants can file, how DHCR makes a determination of rent appeals.
  • Substantial Rehabilitation - Explanation of process by which DHCR determines whether a building has been substantially rehabilitated and is thus exempt from rent stabilization.
  • Eviction - Describes reasons a rent stabilized tenant may be evicted and locations of housing court in each borough.
  • Window Guards - When window guards must be installed to protect small children, who pays for window guards, NYC Department of Health requirements, etc.
  • Air Conditioners - Rules for installing air conditioners in rent regulated apartments, rent increases which can be collected by landlords.
  • Tax Abatements - Discusses two tax incentive programs frequently used by owners of rent regulated buildings in NYC, J-51 and 421-a.
  • Hotels, SROs and Rooming Houses - Discusses jurisdiction, leases and rent increases, services and eviction in rent regulated hotels, SROs and rooming houses in NYC.
  • Fuel Cost Adjustment - Rents in rent CONTROLLED apartments may be adjusted up or down yearly by a fuel cost adjustment. Describes procedures and applicability.

Page updated 8/19/2010

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