Happy days are coming for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized New York City tenants, who face the lowest increases in nearly half a century when the Rent Guidelines Board meets next week.
There’s even the chance of an unprecedented rent freeze — something Mayor de Blasio backed as a candidate last year but which he hasn’t repeated publicly since taking office.
“The range being considered is the lowest in history, and that’s a reflection of the affordability crisis we are facing as a city. Tenants are clearly struggling after so many years of significant rent increases,” City Hall spokesman Wiley Norvell said when asked whether de Blasio still supports a rent freeze.
“The board will make its determination based on those conditions and the data and testimony it receives,” Norvell added.
Hizzoner appointed six of the nine board members, giving him a big say over how they vote.
He’ll appoint the remaining three members later in his term to replace holdovers from the prior administration.
Last month, the board set the range it was considering for rent hikes at a lower point than its staffers recommended — 0 to 3 percent for one-year leases — keeping open the possibility of a rent freeze.
For two-year leases, the board — which typically ends up approving rent hikes around the midpoint of its range — set the parameters between a 0.5 percent and 4.5 percent increase.
The smallest increases enacted since the board’s inception in 1969 were 2 percent for one-year leases and 4 percent for two-year deals.
The final vote on this year’s hikes — which would affect leases expiring starting Oct. 1 — is scheduled for Monday.
“We’ve never had a situation where you have a mayor in place that campaigned on a zero Rent Guidelines Board increase, so I think they’re certainly shooting for zero — and they could possibly get it, because the mayor has appointed a majority of the members,” said Jack Freund, vice president of the Rent Stabilization Association, which represent 25,000 property owners.
“We’re looking to keep owners whole and keep them in business, and what that requires is a rent increase above the range this board is considering,” he added.
But loud calls for a rent freeze dominated a hearing Monday — from elected officials who included City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer.
Last year’s rent hikes were 4 percent for one-year and 7.75 percent for two-year leases.
“The bottom line is the Rent Guidelines Board has been stacked against tenants for many, many years. When fuel prices were low, when expenses were low, tenants got hit,” Stringer said at an unrelated event at City Hall.
Additional reporting by Beth DeFalco