DHCR lease renewal form is the common name for Form RTP-8, the paper your landlord must use to offer you a new lease on a rent-stabilized apartment in New York City. It shows your current legal rent, the allowed increase, and your choice of a one-year or two-year term. The form protects you. Your landlord cannot quietly raise the rent past the legal limit or slip in new rules. If a DHCR lease renewal form just landed in your mailbox, take a breath. You have time, and you have rights.
When and Why to Use a DHCR Lease Renewal Form
Rent stabilization gives you the right to renew your lease. Your landlord typically cannot just say no. Instead, state rules require the owner to offer the renewal on the DHCR lease renewal form. The offer must reach you no more than 150 days and no fewer than 90 days before your current lease ends. It should come by mail or by hand delivery.
The form matters because it sets your rent for the whole next term. For example, if your new lease starts on or after October 1, 2026, Rent Guidelines Board Order #58 allows a 0% increase for both one-year and two-year leases. Leases that started before that date fell under Order #57, which allowed 3% and 4.5%. As a result, the start date on your DHCR lease renewal form can change what you owe.
Signing also protects your home. If you ignore the offer, your landlord may later go to court to end your tenancy. However, a signed and returned form keeps your lease going. You can read the official rules at New York State Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR).
What to Check on the DHCR Lease Renewal Form (and What to Leave Out)
The DHCR lease renewal form has two main parts. Your landlord fills in Part A. You fill in Part B, which is your response. Before you sign, check each of these items in Part A:
- Your name, address, and apartment number
- The date your current lease ends
- Your current legal regulated rent
- The guideline percentage and the new rent for each lease term
- Any separate charges, such as an approved MCI increase, with a DHCR order number
- A copy of the Rent Stabilization Lease Rider, which should come with the renewal
Here are the key deadlines and figures in one place. If you live in Nassau, Westchester, or Rockland County, your county rent guidelines board sets different rates. Check with DHCR for those numbers.
| Rule | Exact figure |
|---|---|
| Earliest your landlord can send the offer | 150 days before your lease ends |
| Latest your landlord should send the offer | 90 days before your lease ends |
| Your time to sign and return it | 60 days from the date it was served |
| Landlord returns a fully signed copy | Within 30 days of getting your signed form |
| NYC increase, leases starting Oct 1, 2026 to Sept 30, 2027 (Order #58) | 0% for 1 year / 0% for 2 years |
| NYC increase, leases starting Oct 1, 2025 to Sept 30, 2026 (Order #57) | 3% for 1 year / 4.5% for 2 years |
What should you leave off? Don’t cross out terms or write new conditions on the DHCR lease renewal form. Just check one box for the term you want, then sign and date it. If you think the rent is wrong, sign anyway and put your concern in a separate cover letter. Your landlord also cannot add new clauses. In most cases, the renewal must keep the same terms as your current lease.
Sample Template You Can Adapt
A short cover letter makes a clear record of what you sent and when. Mail it together with your signed DHCR lease renewal form. Change the bracketed parts to match your situation.
Sample template – adapt to your state and your situation. This is an informational sample, not legal advice.
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address, Apt #]
[City, State ZIP]
[Date]
[Landlord or Managing Agent Name]
[Landlord Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Tracking #[number]
Re: Signed DHCR Lease Renewal Form (RTP-8) for [Apartment Address, Apt #]
Dear [Landlord Name],
Enclosed is my signed DHCR lease renewal form for the apartment listed above. I received your renewal offer on [date received]. I am returning it within the 60-day period.
I choose a [one-year / two-year] renewal lease starting [lease start date]. Under Rent Guidelines Board Order #[57 or 58], the new monthly rent is $[amount].
[Optional: The form lists my current legal rent as $[amount on form]. I believe the correct legal rent is $[your amount]. I am signing to keep my renewal rights. I reserve my right to raise this issue with DHCR.]
Please return a fully signed copy of my renewal lease within 30 days. Please also include the Rent Stabilization Lease Rider if it was not already attached.
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Thank you,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[Phone or Email]
Enclosure: Signed Form RTP-8
How to Send Your DHCR Lease Renewal Form So It Counts
Before you mail anything, make copies. Photograph or scan every page of the signed DHCR lease renewal form and your cover letter. Keep the envelope the offer came in, too. The postmark can help prove when your landlord served it.
Next, send it by USPS certified mail with a return receipt. That gives you proof of delivery. You can also hand-deliver it, but ask for a dated, signed receipt. Many tenants do both. Save the green card or the online tracking page with your copies.
What if your landlord does not return a signed copy of the DHCR lease renewal form within 30 days? Send a short follow-up letter and keep a copy. If that doesn’t work, you can file DHCR Form RA-90, which covers an owner’s failure to renew or to give you a signed lease. If you ever get court papers, contact a local legal-aid office or tenant attorney right away. Free help is available through LawHelpNY and the courts’ CourtHelp portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my landlord sent the DHCR lease renewal form late?
If the offer came fewer than 90 days before your lease ended, you still get 60 days to accept. In most cases, you can pick one of two start dates for the new lease. One is the date your old lease ends. The other is the first rent due date at least 120 days after the offer. Check with DHCR or legal aid about your exact dates.
Can I switch from a one-year lease to a two-year lease?
Yes. You choose the term again at every renewal, so just check the box you want on the DHCR lease renewal form. Under Order #58, both terms carry a 0% increase. As a result, a two-year lease keeps today’s rent in place for longer.
Does signing mean I agree the rent is legal?
Typically, no. You may still be able to file a rent overcharge complaint with DHCR after you sign. However, overcharge claims have time limits, so act soon if something looks wrong.
Protect your stuff while you sort this out
A landlord’s insurance does not cover your belongings — renters insurance does, often for a few dollars a month. Compare options before your next move.
Find Your State’s Exact Rules
Notice periods, deposit caps, and the eviction timeline all change from state to state. Pick your state to see the exact days, dollar limits, and steps that apply where you live.
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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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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.