rpl 226-c is the New York law that says your landlord must warn you in writing, ahead of time, before raising your rent by 5% or more or before refusing to renew your lease. Under rpl 226-c, the warning must come 30, 60, or 90 days ahead, depending on how long you have lived there or how long your lease is.
What RPL 226-c Actually Says
New York lawmakers wanted renters to have time to plan. Nobody should find out a week before move-out that the rent is jumping or the lease is ending. As a result, rpl 226-c sets a written-notice rule for two situations. The first is a renewal offer with a rent increase of 5% or more. The second is a landlord’s decision not to renew at all.
The amount of notice depends on your history in the unit. In most cases, the longer you have lived there, the more warning you get. For example, a renter who has lived in a unit for three years gets 90 days. A renter with a six-month lease who moved in recently gets 30 days. Also, if your lease itself promises a longer notice period, the longer one controls.
Finally, rpl 226-c includes a built-in consequence. If the notice comes late, your lawful tenancy keeps going on its existing terms. That lasts until the required notice period has fully passed, counted from the day you actually got the written notice. You can read the full text of Real Property Law 226-c on the New York State Senate website.
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| What triggers notice | Rent increase of 5% or more, or the landlord will not renew | RPL 226-c |
| Lived there under 1 year, and lease under 1 year | 30 days’ written notice | RPL 226-c |
| Lived there 1 to 2 years, or lease of 1 to 2 years | 60 days’ written notice | RPL 226-c |
| Lived there 2+ years, or lease of 2+ years | 90 days’ written notice | RPL 226-c |
| Late or missing notice | Current lease terms continue until the full notice period ends | RPL 226-c |
Who RPL 226-c Covers (and Who It Does Not)
Typically, rpl 226-c protects renters in residential homes and apartments across New York State. It applies whether you rent in a big city, a small town, or a suburb. It also applies whether you have a written lease or you pay month to month. What matters is that you are a lawful occupant renting a place to live.
However, some renters have extra protections on top of this law. For example, rent-stabilized tenants have their own renewal-lease rules, handled through state housing officials. Some cities and towns have also opted into New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law, which adds limits on rent hikes and non-renewals. The exact limits and exemptions change, so confirm them with the statute text or your local housing office.
The statute text also spells out which units it covers. If you are not sure whether your unit fits, check the official text of rpl 226-c linked above. You can also ask a local legal-aid office. They can tell you quickly whether your home is covered.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
Under rpl 226-c, your landlord’s main job is simple. The notice must be in writing. A text message saying “rent is going up” or a hallway chat is not the kind of notice the law describes. The notice must also arrive early enough to meet your 30, 60, or 90-day window.
In most cases, landlords must give notice even when the lease is simply ending. For example, “we are not renewing” still needs proper written notice under rpl 226-c. The landlord does not get to skip it because the lease has an end date printed on it.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
First, stay calm and gather paper. Keep the notice, the envelope, and any emails. Note the date you received it. Then compare that date to your required window. If the notice came late, rpl 226-c says your existing terms keep going. As a result, you may be able to keep paying your current rent for longer.
For example, say you have lived in your apartment for three years. Your landlord gives you written notice of a 10% increase only 30 days before your lease ends. You were owed 90 days. In that case, your old rent and terms may continue until 90 days after you actually got the notice. Politely point this out to your landlord in writing, and keep a copy.
If your landlord files an eviction case, do not ignore the court papers. A late notice under rpl 226-c may help your defense, but courts decide each case on its own facts. Contact a local legal-aid office or a tenant attorney right away. You can also check your court’s self-help resources for next steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
My landlord raised my rent by less than 5%. Do they need to give notice?
The notice rule in rpl 226-c is triggered by increases of 5% or more, or by non-renewal. A smaller increase does not trigger this specific notice rule. However, your lease or local law may still require notice, so check both.
Can my landlord just tell me in person?
No. The law requires written notice. Many tenants in New York can point to a verbal-only warning as not meeting rpl 226-c, but check with a local legal-aid office about your situation.
Does a late notice cancel the rent increase forever?
Not typically. A late notice delays the change. Your current terms continue until the full notice period has passed from the day you actually got written notice.
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.
New York Renter Guides
- New York Eviction Process
- New York Tenant Rights
- New York Security Deposit Law
- New York Rent Increase Laws
- New York Repairs and Habitability
- 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.