The Rent Guidelines Board is the nine-member New York City body that decides, once a year, how much rents on rent-stabilized apartments may go up. It votes in June, and its decision — an Order — governs renewal leases beginning on 1 October of that year through 30 September of the next. For leases beginning on or after 1 October 2026, the board set 0%.
The current and previous orders
| Order | Leases commencing | One-year | Two-year |
|---|---|---|---|
| #58 | 1 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2027 | 0% | 0% |
| #57 | 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2026 | 3% | 4.5% |
Order #58 is a rent freeze: no increase on either a one-year or a two-year renewal. Because a new order is adopted every June, check the board's current order before relying on a figure — the numbers above are the ones in force as this was written, and they change annually. What does not change is the structure: one order per year, separate percentages for one-year and two-year renewals, running on the 1 October to 30 September cycle.
Which apartments it reaches
Only rent-stabilized apartments and lofts, and separately hotel units, which get their own order. It does not set the rent on a market-rate apartment, and it does not apply to rent-controlled units, which are a much older and far smaller programme with its own rules. If you do not know which you are in, the way to find out is to request your rent history free from New York State Homes and Community Renewal — see am I rent stabilized?
One thing worth knowing: a building can be stabilized because of a tax benefit rather than its age. Buildings receiving 421-a or J-51 are generally stabilized for as long as the benefit runs, which is why brand-new luxury buildings sometimes turn out to be regulated. That is covered at 421-a and J-51 explained.
How the board decides
The board is appointed by the Mayor and is meant to balance two things: what it costs owners to operate buildings, and what tenants can afford. Through the spring it publishes research on operating costs, fuel and utility prices, income and affordability, and holds public hearings. It takes a preliminary vote, then a final vote in June. The proceedings are public and the votes are frequently contested — which is why the annual figure is as much a political event as a technical one.
What the order does not cover
- Not the rent on a new tenancy. The orders govern renewal leases for existing stabilized tenants.
- Not the only path to an increase. Separate mechanisms exist for building-wide and apartment-specific improvements, and they are administered by the state rather than the board.
- Not eviction protection. The board sets a number. The right to a renewal lease comes from rent stabilization itself.
- Not the same as the Good Cause Eviction rent standard. That is a separate, state-published figure for a different set of apartments, and the two are frequently confused — see Good Cause Eviction in NYC.
Why this appears on a building record
Whether an apartment is stabilized turns partly on facts about the building — when it was built, how many units it has, whether it holds a tax benefit — and those are public records. Check a Building shows the year built, the unit count and the building's tax and program flags, which is where the question usually starts. It cannot tell you your unit's regulatory status: for that, the rent history from HCR is the record that settles it.
Sources: NYC Rent Guidelines Board — 2026-27 Apartment/Loft Order #58 and 2025-26 Apartment/Loft Order #57. Orders are adopted annually; confirm the current figure with the board before relying on it. General information, not legal advice.