A rent increase notice nyc landlords send is controlled by New York Real Property Law § 226-c, and it protects you from surprise rent hikes at renewal time. The key number is 5 percent: for any increase of 5 percent or more, your rent increase notice nyc landlord must give you 30, 60, or 90 days’ written notice, depending on how long you have lived there.
What Rent Increase Notice NYC Actually Says
Many tenants find this law when a letter cites “RPL 226-c.” That citation means your landlord is saying they gave the notice the law requires. However, you should check the math yourself. The rent increase notice nyc rule applies when a landlord offers to renew your tenancy with a rent increase “equal to or greater than five percent above the current rent.” It also applies when the landlord does not plan to renew at all.
The notice period depends on your time in the unit or your lease length. The law says to use whichever is longer. For example, if you have lived there 18 months on a series of short leases, you count the 18 months. As a result, a rent increase notice nyc landlord must give you at least 60 days in that case.
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| When notice is required | Rent increase of 5% or more, or non-renewal | § 226-c(1)(a) |
| Under 1 year in the unit, and no lease of 1 year or more | At least 30 days’ written notice | § 226-c(2)(b) |
| More than 1 year but under 2 years, or a lease of 1 to under 2 years | At least 60 days’ written notice | § 226-c(2)(c) |
| More than 2 years in the unit, or a lease of 2 years or more | At least 90 days’ written notice | § 226-c(2)(d) |
| How time is counted | Total time in the unit or lease length, whichever is longer | § 226-c(2)(a) |
| If notice is late | Old lease terms continue until the full notice period ends | § 226-c(1)(a) |
You can read the full text of the law on the New York State Senate website (RPL § 226-c).
Who Rent Increase Notice NYC Covers (and Who It Does Not)
In most cases, the rent increase notice nyc rule covers anyone renting a “residential dwelling unit” in New York. This is a state law. As a result, it applies in all five boroughs and across the rest of the state. It covers month-to-month renters and tenants with leases.
There is one narrow exception in the statute. A co-op corporation does not have to give this notice to a tenant who is a unit owner or shareholder in that co-op. However, some co-ops under certain Private Housing Finance Law articles must still give it. Also, rent-stabilized tenants typically have their own separate renewal rules. Check with a local legal-aid office about how the rent increase notice nyc law fits your apartment.
New York City tenants may also get extra protection from the “good cause eviction law” (Article 6-A of the Real Property Law). Since August 18, 2024, the notice must say whether your unit is covered by that law. If the unit is exempt, the notice must say why. This version of the rule runs until June 15, 2034.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
First, the notice must be in writing. A text-free phone call or a comment in the hallway does not count. Second, it must arrive on time. The rent increase notice nyc clock is based on how long you have lived there, not on what your lease says about notice.
From August 18, 2024 until June 15, 2034, the notice must also include the information required by RPL § 231-c. For example, it must state whether the unit is subject to the good cause eviction law. If the landlord is not renewing a covered unit, it must give the lawful reason. If the landlord is raising the rent above the “local rent standard” on a covered unit, it must explain why. A rent increase notice nyc landlords send without these pieces may be incomplete.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
The law has a built-in fix for late notice. Your tenancy continues “under the existing terms” from the day you got actual written notice until the full notice period ends. That means your old rent stays in place for that time. This holds even if your lease says something different.
For example, say you have lived there three years. You need 90 days’ notice. However, the letter arrives only 30 days before your lease ends. In that case, your old rent may continue for 90 days from the day you got the letter. As a result, a late rent increase notice nyc landlords send does not start the new rent on time.
Keep the envelope, the letter, and a note of the date it arrived. Pay only the amount you believe is lawful, and keep proof of payment. If your landlord threatens eviction or files in housing court, contact a local legal-aid office or a tenant attorney right away. Many tenants can get free help, and a lawyer can check how the rent increase notice nyc law applies to your case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a rent increase notice nyc landlord have to give notice for a small increase?
Under RPL § 226-c, the notice rule kicks in at 5 percent or more above your current rent. For an increase under 5 percent, this section does not require the 30/60/90-day notice. However, other laws or your lease may still require notice, so check with a legal-aid office.
What if I got the notice late?
The statute says your current lease terms continue until the full notice period has passed, counted from the day you got written notice. In most cases, that means the old rent continues for that time. A late rent increase notice nyc landlords send does not simply cancel the increase forever, but it does delay it.
Does my lease override this law?
No. The law applies “notwithstanding any provision of a lease or other tenancy agreement to the contrary.” That means a lease clause cannot shorten these notice periods.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
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- Breaking a Lease in New York
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.