Rent Freeze Decision Takes Effect in NYC: Here Are the New Rules

The new period affecting approximately 1 million rent‑regulated apartments in New York City, USA, began on October 1. Under the decision taken by the Rent Guidelines Board on June 25, the rent increase rate for leases starting between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027 was set at 0 % for both one‑year and two‑year contracts.

Millions of tenants will be affected

The application concerns more than 2 million tenants living in New York’s five boroughs who are subject to rent regulation. The decision does not cover apartments that are not included in rent stabilization and are set according to market conditions.

No Increase in One‑ and Two‑Year Contracts

Under the new regulation, the rent increase rate for one‑year leases starting between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027 will be 0 %. Two‑year leases will also see a 0 % increase. Thus, tenants covered by rent stabilization can renew their contracts for the specified period without a rent hike.

The decision also sparked debate

While the rent freeze decision was welcomed by tenant groups, some landlords argued that the policy would make it harder to operate buildings amid rising taxes, energy, maintenance and repair costs. President Donald Trump also criticized the measure.

Rent Stabilization Does Not Apply to Every Apartment

According to New York City officials, rent stabilization covers a significant portion of the city's rental housing but does not include all apartments. Annual increase rates for units under rent stabilization are set by the Rent Guidelines Board. In market‑priced apartments, the rent is determined by an agreement between the landlord and tenant.

Other Rules Also Changed in October

In October, in addition to the rent freeze, other regulations affecting New Yorkers came into force. One of them was the "Click to Cancel" rule aimed at making it easier to terminate subscription services. The new regulation requires businesses to clearly state subscription terms and to provide consumers with a direct cancellation method.

New Era in Subscription Cancellation

Under the new rule, companies are required to clearly disclose the rights consumers have when purchasing or canceling subscriptions. Additionally, businesses cannot charge consumers for shipping when returning free products. Penalties for non‑compliant businesses start at $525, and in some cases the consumer's loss may need to be compensated.

New Restrictions on Health Products

The third amendment, which came into force in October, covers menstrual and intimate care products. From October 10, new restrictions will apply to the sale of products that contain certain ingredients deliberately added to the product and have been deemed harmful to public health in New York City.