The Rent Guidelines Board froze rents for an estimated 1.2 million New Yorkers for a second year in a row. Two-year leases will see an increase of 2%. Some tenant advocates wanted the board to roll back rents this year. But landlords argued that taxes and other mandates have made it more expensive to run a building. What do you say? What is the appropriate increase for tenants in stabilized apartments that already pay less than market rate? How is the cost of rent in New York City affecting you? How much credit do you give Mayor de Blasio for pushing through these rent freezes?
Schiumo's Thoughts
Until someone rids the rent regulated system of fraudulent tenants and landlords, a cloud will always hang over these proceedings. Those who abuse the process force regular New Yorkers to take sides. It won't be popular with those directly involved, but the rest of us would appreciate a mayor taking a closer look.
Your Thoughts
I am a small building owner. I don't like the $0 rent increase because we cant afford to make improvements to our tenants apartments. Rents should be based on the tenants incomes every year. Tenants income should be less than $80,000.00 a year or less. Also tenants should not be allowed to sub-lease rent stabilized apartments they are making money on the backs of landlords
Tweety
I feel I'm getting price out of my neighbor. I lived here for 20 years. Landlord barely maintain the building. When someone move out rent more then double and they getting away with it. One apartment when from $500 to $2300. How is that possible? Now on a fix income is harder. mayor needs to investigate these buildings. Mayor needs to make sure these building are maintained in order to get any increase. More housing needed for the working class and fix income.
Rob in Long Island City Queens
WHAT ABOUT TENANTS WHO PAY HEATING COSTS Do we get a set aside in rent stabilized apartments? I suffer paying every utility just like a land lord
Joyce
I live in a pre-war rental building. I pay market rent. My landlord asked for a 10% increase this year for a two year lease. Thankfully, I negotiated 5% increase. But my income has not increased in a few years. Also, my health insurance is increasing… I have neighbors who have raised their children in this building and others who have just been here for many years. A number of them have classic 6 homes, two big bedrooms, full dining room, large foyer and step down to large living room, plus a “maid’s room” and third full bath - and they are rent stabilized. Me in my one bedroom one bath home am subsidizing my neighbors’ rent. I love my neighbors. But they tell me hey, have a great summer. We’re going to our Hampton’s house. We’re sending our daughter to the Maldives for her high school graduation…. And I resent it. I can’t afford a vacation or to have a child. I must work so hard…
Lisa, UWS
I live in a rent stabilize apartment paying for my own heat electricity and gas for cooking. There is no consideration for tenants who are paying their own heating costs. This should be some set aside as it was when I originally moved here in 2002 to cater to these people such as myself. I have the same responsibility as a landlord when it comes to heating costs and the city and state are not considering our plight. No one is talking about this or want to hear about us
Joyce from ENY
The system is so broken and skewed one way. For every landlord there are 20 tenants so of course the vote goes to the majority. We live in a capitalistic society but this is just plain communism. Exactly Deblasio's roots and beliefs. Where else in the country or the world does this go on? If you can't afford a Ferrari the government should not help you and the "1% "does not owe it to you. If you aren't making the money then move to the Bronx or out of Manhattan. Why is it a rent stabilized tenant's god-given right to live in Manhattan?? I make a substantial amount of money and I'm going to be forced to move to the suburbs myself because I'm in a free market apartment and the system forces my rent to an artificially high number. I am paying for others so they don't have to move out of the city so I should have to move out of the city myself? How broken is the system?!
Bill
What about Affordable Homeownership? I believe politicos could legislate a "section 8" to subsidize working class people in NY, so people who have lived for decades in their rental apts could be able to purchase and effectively become middle class in NY. I only hear about "affordable housing" but really for who? Rent control laws briefly expired last year. Who is to say that they may be struck down in the future. We need affordable homeownership now before we become a city for the ultra rich and ultra poor.
Obed, Washington Heights.
My name is Monique I have a young child, and I work for the city of NY. I make 70,000 a year and I still can't afford to rent a place in NY. The apts are going for 2,500 to 3,000 for a two bedroom. I don't make enough but make too much for affordable housing. It's so sad that I may have to move out of NY. I dont know If the Mayor is the total blame; however, it wasn't this bad before he got into office.
Monique
We have a mayor who has our back. He says he's our hero. Still our future looks bleak. Because his vision is zero.
Michael in Greenpoint
Great program regarding the Rent increase. I am a CPA and see my clients rent income and expenses so I get both sides of the coin. From my point of the information, I see the property taxes and water charges increasing every year. Water increases have been at least 3.5% to over 10% a year a few years ago, and property taxes go up each year as well of at least 5%. Those charges are charges the city controls. I dont understand how the city can vote on freezing rent when the expenses they in fact control, go up. The min wage that the landlords need to pay repair people to fix the buildings, is controlled by city as well. It doesnt seem fair. I'd like to see that rent guidelines meeting to see how and where they people get their info, maybe that would help form a better opinion of why these things happen. Thanks for the great programming
Peter
Once again our progressive mayor placates those New Yorkers who buy into his divisive rhetoric that the wealthy are those to blame. Funny, when he needed money to fund his campaign for one New York, the landlords were his best friends. We live in the financial capital of the world. If you can't afford NYC, perhaps it's time to move.
Carey from the Bronx
As a small landlord not a corporate owner we are screwed. Our real estate tax was just raised by $6,000 for the year but have not received rent increases from our tenants this past year and will not get one again next year. My tenants own homes in the Hamptons and own businesses all making over 200,000 a year. This is why landlords have to sell to the international buyers who will force these tenants out. Mr DeBlasio needs to go.
Eileen
We need to talk about rent freezes, rollbacks and matters of homeless prevention especially with NYCHA and their succession rights policy overwritten. This is a frightening situation throughout the city. It's just not right!!! I'm living in a public housing apartment for two years by authorization and will be evicted in September because NYCHA refuses to allow me to have the lease on the apartment.
Julius from Long Island City
I'm happy with the 1 year & 2 year increases, but how come we still pay forever for neccessary building updates, even after the cost is paid for?????? Why don't they stop this?
Dan from Rego Park
It’s important to note that the board cited data to make decisions. NYC sponsors the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey which is conducted by the US Census Bureau. Our city and our country would be better off if more of our organizations used data, such as rigorous surveys, to make informed decisions.
Josh Astoria, NY
The rent freeze did nothing for me other than make my landlord more greedy. I am struggling with rent this year. My apartment is technically registered as rent stabilized yet my landlord increased my rent over 6% this year after refusing to offer me a lease. I live in Harlem and all he wants is more money. I teach in Harlem, go to church in Harlem, and volunteer in Harlem. I love my neighborhood but my building is a rotating door of people who could careless about their high rent and the community. It's making it hard for me to live here and I'm actually part of this community and I can barely afford to stay for much longer and it saddens me very very much.
Melissa from Harlem
I have been living in a rent stabilized apartment for over 30 years. It took 20 years for my initial rent to double. The same (uncontrolled) unit in my building rents for three times that amount. My landlord is a billionare criminal with many properties large and small on the east side of Manhattan. I don't see why small landlords have to have the same rules as the one percent.
Rob, east village
I recently tried to move from my rent stabilized apartment and was faced with something called market rate, which means that the rent can go up any time. I was also told I had to earn at least 40 times the rent to be considered. This is what the new normal is all about. We appear to be trapped in our own rent stabilized apartment
Alphonse, Midtown
I believe that rents should either be frozen, or perhaps reduced until NYC living becomes economically reasonable. Most rents are too high in this town anyway. But, if rents remain frozen, or reduced, wouldn't dishonest landlords use that as an excuse for not being able to afford building maintenance, or cause them to abandon their property?
Sal #2, Flushing, NY
This is a thorn in everyone's side over and over again. I can't believe that this city and state administrations don't even give it a thought about us life time tax payers. They have AIRBNB and to me I never know who my next door neighborhood is and for that matter it includes both sides of the building. I have no idea who's who. To me it is very uncomfortable and dangerous with this setup. They are being paid by the person per day and this isn't enough. They are completely destroying our real estate market. I understand that even person with private homes that are unable. to meet their mortgage payments can do the same . So what does that do to the value of your property . Also even if someone does get an apartment I gather they are there to stay a few years. Whatever. Everyone seems to be off doing things other than taking care of business.
maxxiee, mp
Rents are going up, gas is going up. utilities are going up, rents are going up, but salaries are not keeping pace. Shows the level of greed in this city and country as a whole. Apple threatening to hold money from the republicans, guess what do not buy apple products. They do not represent American values. How many companies procure labor from outside the country, how many use tax bases in other countries to avoid U.S. taxes. Yet they reap the dividends and treat the America citizen like a third rate person.
Roscoe, Park Hill
So many people in NY have rent controlled or stabilised apartments ...and make far above the income level that ..i think should entitle them to this subsidisation of there rent ...many of 3 and 4 bedroom apartments ...
Mark, UES