Is Your Rent Increase Legal?

Find out in 60 seconds if your landlord is overcharging you under NYC rent law.

Based on RGB Order #57 (2025–2026) Good Cause Eviction Law (2024)

Is your apartment Rent Stabilized?

This determines which NYC rent law applies to your situation.

How Does It Work?

1

Identify Your Protection

We determine if you're covered by Rent Stabilization, Good Cause Eviction, or neither.

2

Calculate the Maximum

Using current RGB rates or the Good Cause formula, we calculate the legal maximum increase.

3

Get Your Verdict

See if your increase is legal, how much you're being overcharged, and what to do next.

NYC Rent Laws at a Glance

RS
Rent Stabilized — Increases set by the RGB. Currently 3% (1-yr) / 4.5% (2-yr).
GC
Good Cause — Market-rate tenants in eligible buildings. Capped at 5% + CPI (max 10%).
MR
Market Rate — No legal cap, but you still have rights and negotiation power.
Learn more →

Know Your Rights

  • Your landlord must offer a renewal lease for stabilized apartments
  • Good Cause law prohibits "unreasonable" rent increases
  • You can request your apartment's rent history from HCR
  • Overcharges can be recovered going back up to 6 years
  • Free legal help is available through multiple organizations
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Get notified when RGB rates change, new tenant protection laws pass, or important deadlines approach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much can my NYC landlord raise my rent? ▼

It depends on your apartment type. Rent-stabilized apartments are limited to Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) approved rates — currently 3% for 1-year and 4.5% for 2-year leases (Order #57, 2025-2026). Market-rate apartments may be protected by the Good Cause Eviction Law, which caps increases at 5% + CPI (currently 8.2%). Unprotected apartments have no legal cap.

How do I know if my apartment is rent stabilized? ▼

Check for a Rent Stabilization Rider attached to your lease. You can also check the DHCR portal at portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask, call 311, or request your apartment's rent history from NYS HCR.

What is the Good Cause Eviction Law? ▼

Effective April 20, 2024, the Good Cause Eviction Law protects many market-rate tenants in buildings built before 2009 where the landlord owns more than 10 units in NYS. It caps rent increases at the local rent standard (5% + CPI, max 10%) and provides eviction protections. Units renting above 245% of HUD Fair Market Rent are exempt.

What should I do if my rent increase is illegal? ▼

Request your rent history from HCR, write a formal objection letter to your landlord citing the specific law and rates, and contact a tenant rights organization for legal assistance. Use our calculator to generate a response letter with the exact figures.