What type of apartment do I live in?

The first thing you should do to find out what kind of housing you live in is to look at your lease. Sometimes the lease will tell you. If your lease doesn’t say, you will have to do a little investigating.

• Rent stabilized
  Buildings built before 1974 with six or more units are subject to rent stabilization laws. Each individual apartment has a unique history that determines if it is rent stabilized. If you think your apartment may be rent stabilized, contact DHCR and ask them to mail you a rent history. Look over your rent history with a housing expert. This kind of housing has a lot of rights and protections.
  • Can the landlord raise my rent?
    Your rent can be increased by a certain percentage every year which is determined by the Rent Guidelines Board. Landlords who make major improvements to the building can apply for an increase called an MCI.
  • I want to leave and my family member wants to stay, can he or she take over the apartment? (Succession Rights)
    DHCR Succession Rights Fact sheet
  • Does the landlord have to renew my lease?
    DHCR Lease Renewal Fact sheet
  • My lease says I have a preferential rent, what does that mean?
    DHCR Preferential Rents Fact Sheet
  • My landlord is charging fees for an air conditioner and a washing machine, how much can they charge? How much can they charge for a late fee?
    DHCR Fees Fact sheet
• Unregulated
  Rent controlled apartments have been continuously occupied by the same family since before 1974. Most rent controlled tenants know that they are rent controlled.
  • Question/Scenario
    Answer
• Subsidized
  • Project based Section 8, HUD subsidized, Mitchell-Lama
    Most subsidized apartments have income based on the tenant’s rent. If the tenant’s rent goes up or down, there is a way to have the rent adjusted. Some people also have section 8 vouchers. Those people may be living in rent regulated or unregulated housing.
• NYCHA
  • New York City Housing Authority, public housing
    Go to NYCHA Section
    NYCHA Website