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NYC Rent Freeze Program Overview and FAQs

The NYC Rent Freeze Program, also known as SCRIE and DRIE, offers assistance to eligible tenants to freeze their rent at a certain level. This summary covers how to calculate frozen rent, what to do if denied or revoked, how to continue benefits for a prior household member, adjusting frozen rent after income loss, what happens if you move, and more. The program also addresses major capital improvements, benefit takeovers, reapplications, and frozen rent adjustments due to changes in income or apartment transfers.

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NYC Rent Freeze Program Overview and FAQs

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  1. THE NEW YORK CITY RENT FREEZE PROGRAM RENT FREEZE PROGRAM: : ANSWERS TO FREQUENT QUESTIONS ANSWERS TO FREQUENT QUESTIONS SCRIE OMBUDSPERSON OFFICE OF THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE OFFICE OF THE TAXPAYER ADVOCATE NYC DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NYC DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

  2.  HOW AN OMBUDSPERSON CAN HELP THE NYC RENT FREEZE PROGRAM HOW TO CALCULATE FROZEN RENT (+THE 1/3 RULE) WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE DENIED OR REVOKED  ANSWERS TO ANSWERS TO FREQUENT FREQUENT QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ABOUT SCRIE ABOUT SCRIE HOW TO CONTINUE THE BENEFIT OF A PRIOR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER  ADJUSTING FROZEN RENT AFTER A PERMANENT INCOME LOSS  WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BENEFIT IF YOU MOVE 

  3. O OFFICE FFICE OF Independent office within the Dept. of Finance THE T TAXPAYER AXPAYER A ADVOCATE OF THE DVOCATE SCRIE SCRIE AND AND DRIE O DRIE OMBUDSPERSONS MBUDSPERSONS Created by City Council  TRIED SCRIE UNIT, STILL NEED HELP WHAT IS A RENT FREEZE OMBUDSPERSON?  NEED RECONSIDERATION OR FURTHER ASSISTANCE  YOUR ADVOCATE/LIAISON  POLICY/SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND ANNUAL REPORT Mandated by law to publish Annual Report to the City Council. Brings issues to Council’s attention and makes recommendations for broader changes.

  4. For most tenants, FROZEN RENT equals their PRIOR LEASE RENT AT THE START OF YOUR BENEFIT: • When did your current lease begin? WHAT IS MY FROZEN RENT? • Find the lease PRIOR to the current lease • The rent amount in that lease is your PRIOR LEASE RENT

  5. EXCEPTION: ONE-THIRD MONTHLY INCOME RULE TO CALCULATE ONE-THIRD MONTHLY INCOME • Total annual household income ÷ 36 RULE: WHICHEVER IS HIGHER = FROZEN RENT WHAT IS MY FROZEN RENT? (cont’d) INITIAL APPLICATION: Prior Lease Rent vs 1/3 Monthly Income RENEWAL APPLICATION: Existing Frozen Rent vs 1/3 Monthly Income

  6. MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT (“MCI”) MCIs are building-wide improvements to systems such as boilers, windows, electrical rewiring, plumbing and roofs. If approved by DHCR, MCI can result in rent increase. WHAT IS MY FROZEN RENT? (cont’d) SCRIE will cover (without increasing frozen rent) MCI order issued not more than 90 days prior to application

  7. Responses to Denial/Revocation Due to Ineligibility o REAPPLY  If denied for income: INCOME SPIKE OPTION for one year o APPEAL  Within 120 days of letter of decision  Can request more information  If denied: court review via Article 78 filing WHAT IF I AM DENIED OR REVOKED? o CONTACT OMBUDSPERSON Responses to Denial/Revocation Due to Missed Deadline o CHECK RECORD OF SUBMISSION / REAPPLY o APPLY FOR EXTENSION OF TIME  Good cause  Reasonable accommodation (Dept. of Finance EEO) *DENIED: Initial application *REVOKED: Renewal application

  8. What is a BENEFIT TAKEOVER? ◦SCRIE tenant dies or moves out permanently ◦Household member continues the benefit ◦Rent remains frozen Requirements for Benefit Takeovers ◦ SCRIE or DRIE eligibility requirements apply CAN I TAKE OVER ANOTHER PERSON’S BENEFIT? ◦ Benefit Takeover Application (except for spouses)  Within six months or 90 days from letter of revocation, whichever is later ◦ Proof of death or permanent move ◦ Proof of succession rights Not Previously Listed as Household Member? ◦ Old Rule: Not listed, not eligible ◦ New Rule: Provide income for prior years to show eligibility

  9. REDETERMINATIONS: SIGNIFICANT, PERMANENT INCOME LOSS Requirements: o Has been more than 12 months since start of benefit IS THERE A WAY TO LOWER MY FROZEN RENT? o Submit Redetermination Application within six months of event causing income loss  At least 20% income loss since last approved application  Proof that loss is permanent o If applicable, submit together with benefit takeover application If approved: Frozen rent reduced according to % income loss, but not less than one-third income

  10. Submit an APARTMENT TRANSFER APPLICATION o New apartment must be rent regulated to remain in RF Program o In nearly all cases, FROZEN RENT CHANGES WITH A MOVE  SCRIE rules include formula for calculating new frozen rent WHAT IF I MOVE TO A DIFFERENT APARTMENT? o If new rent is higher, FROZEN RENT WILL LIKELY BE HIGHER  New frozen rent cannot be lower than existing frozen rent • How to estimate (in most cases): o New rent minus current monthly benefit o Ex: Before move, Lease rent=$1,200; Frozen=$1,000; Landlord gets $200  Rent for new apartment: $1,500 New Frozen Rent is New Lease Rent ($1,500) minus existing credit ($200) $1,500 - $200 = $1,300   Move will raise frozen rent from $1,000 to $1,300 • If new rent lower than existing frozen rent, consider new initial application

  11. Rent Freeze Ombudspersons Rent Freeze Ombudspersons O OFFICE FFICE OF OF THE THET TAXPAYER AXPAYERA ADVOCATE DVOCATE THANK YOU https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/about/contact-by-email/contact-us-scrie-ombudsman.page

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