NYC's Rent Guidelines Board, in unusual move, lowers proposed increases as mayoral election heats up

Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News on May 27, 2025

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New York City's Rent Guidelines Board lowered the range of potential rent increases for some 2 million New Yorkers in an unusual redo vote on Tuesday — a move that comes as the issue of freezing rents has taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race.

The board reduced the proposed range of increases for rent-stabilized tenants with two-year leases to a span of 3.75% to 7.75%, down from the 4.75% minimum they passed last month. One-year leases remain unchanged with a range of 1.75% to 4.75%.

The nine-member panel of mayoral appointees voted 5-3, with one absence.

Tuesday’s do-over was an anomaly, as the board typically has a single preliminary vote to decide ranges that are later solidified at a final vote. It comes after outrage from both tenants and landlords, who respectively argue that rents should be frozen or ratcheted up. The two sides repeated their criticisms Tuesday following the vote.

Board chair Doug Apple cited an “additional review of evidence” as reason for the reconsideration, though tenant member Adán Soltren challenged that, saying public members already thought the range should have been lower.

The issue of a rent freeze has gained momentum ahead of next month’s Democratic mayoral primary, with several candidates supporting at least a one-year pause. Left-leaning contestant Zohran Mamdani has promised to implement a four-year freeze by appointing tenant-sympathetic board members if elected.

Mayor Eric Adams previously described the 7.75% upper end of the preliminary range as “far too unreasonable of a burden for tenants.”

Adams has stopped short of backing a rent freeze, while frontrunner former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has dismissed the idea as a “politically convenient posture.”

Last year, the board approved final hikes of 2.75% for one-year leases and 5.25% for two-year leases.

The final vote is scheduled for June 27, with any changes taking effect Oct. 1.