Loophole Jeopardizes Protections of Rent-Stabilized Units

WNYC News | Jun 27, 2017

On Tuesday, June 27, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board will vote on how much landlords can increase rents for rent-stabilized apartments across the city. Last year, the board froze rents for one-year leases and allowed for a 2-percent increase for two-year leases.

Meanwhile, an investigation by ProPublica found that landlords for some of these protected units have found a way to raise rents by far more than is allowed, thanks to a loophole in the law. ProPublica mapped by zip code where these buildings are located. One of the highest by percentage is in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx where about 43 percent of tenants pay a preferential rent.

Cezary Podkul has been reporting about how landlords circumvent tenant protections as part of the series "The Rent Racket." In an interview with WNYC's Richard Hake, he explained how landlords are taking advantage of the loophole, and what that means for renters throughout the city.

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