1 800-518-0890 RENT CONTROL AND STABILIZATION
You are probably a rent controlled tenant if (a) your building
was constructed before 1947, (b) you moved into your apartment
before July 1, 1971 and (c) your building contains three or more
housing units. Rent controlled tenants are also called statutory
tenants.
You are probably a rent stabilized tenant if (a) your building
was constructed before January 1,1974, (b) you signed your
initial lease or a renewal lease after July 1,1971 and (c) your
building contains six or more housing units.
Buildings first occupied after January 1,1974 are frequently
subject to the rent stabilization law if they received property
tax benefits under either the 421-a or the J-51 tax programs.
The 421-a program affects new construction. In buildings that
were occupied before July 3,1984 tenants will retain their rent
stabilized status even after the 10 year tax benefit period
expires. After the 10 year period expires, new tenants are not
rent stabilized. In 421-a buildings first occupied after July
3,1984 tenants lose their stabilized status at the end of the tax
benefit period if each lease and renewal has given notice of the
approximate expiration date of the tax benefits and of rent
stabilization coverage.
The program formerly known as J-51 affects buildings that were
substantially rehabilitated. Tenants in such buildings will
retain their rent stabilized status beyond the end of the tax
benefit period, unless each lease and renewal has given notice of
the approximate expiration date of the tax benefits and of rent
stabilization coverage.
Before you sign a new lease, you should examine the lease and any
riders carefully to see if notice is given of the expiration of a
tax benefit period and that the apartment will no longer be
covered by rent regulation after such time.