NEW YORK – Months after the promise of the largest rent hike in years, millions of New Yorkers are now subject to the new hike beginning Saturday, October 1.
The New York City Rental Guidelines Council voted in June to raise rents for those living in the city’s one-million-dollar flat-rate apartments.. The rent increase is the highest jump for rent-controlled apartments in 10 years.
With a margin of 5-4, the Revenue Agency has approved two tariff increases: an increase of 3.25% for one-year leases and a 5% increase for 2-year leases. Both increases are the biggest leaps in nearly a decade.
Legal help he also criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams for not doing enough to fight a freeze, saying it was “wishful thinking given his appointment of members notorious against council tenants.”
For his part, the mayor said in a statement that the increases “will be a burden on the tenants”, while the small owners were at risk of bankruptcy without increase.
“Although we have raised our voices and managed to reduce the increases, today’s determination by the Council on rental guidelines will sadly be a burden on tenants at this difficult time, and this is disappointing,” Adams said in a statement. . “At the same time, smallholders are at risk of bankruptcy for years without increase, putting building owners with modest means at risk and putting at risk the quality of life of tenants who deserve to live in modern, well-appointed buildings.” “.
The mayor added that the current system is “broken and we cannot turn the landlords against the tenants as winners and losers every year”.
Adams acknowledged how inflation is devastating New Yorkers and expressed hope that the Rent Board will accept a smaller raise, if any, so as not to decimate New Yorkers.
Before the final vote, the council heard tenants express fears that rising rents could push the working class into poverty.
The organization Community action for safe apartments condemned the rent increase, saying it directly affects some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. However, the city has also heard from homeowners who said they face increased maintenance and construction costs and need help covering those financial increases.
“Giving them a raise now is not the answer. Many tenants have been unable to work, ”said Jean Foltes, a Brooklyn resident.
“We struggle with owners, rats, cockroaches, leaks, no gas, no heat, no hot water, and you want to give them more money, to do what?” asked Kim Statuto of The Bronx.
A crowd of protesters and tenants opposed to the increase gathered before the council vote in the Great Hall of the Cooper Union and refused to move when several of the council members in favor of the rent increase were disturbed. The group said the rent increase would not benefit smallholders, who said they too struggled with rising costs.
