Rent Freeze Program for Seniors

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) administers their own SCRIE program for Mitchell-Lama residents and Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative shareholders.

If you are a senior citizen and live in a Mitchell-Lama or HDFC cooperative development, and are interested in SCRIE, you must apply with HPD.

SCRIE applicants and recipients who live in Mitchell-Lama or HDFC developments can get help from HPD with:

• Applications
• Eligibility
• Status of applications and benefits
• Renewals

By Email

SCRIE@HPD.nyc.gov

By Mail

NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
SCRIE Unit
100 Gold Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10038

By Phone

The Rent Freeze Program freezes rent at either the tenant's prior legal rent amount or one-third of the monthly total household income, whichever is greater.

Some landlords charge rent-regulated tenants less than the legal regulated rent amount. This is often referred to as preferential rent. 

The tenant's rent will not be frozen at the preferential rent amount unless:

• The tenant is paying an amount that's less than the legal regulated rent (preferential rent) under a written agreement with their landlord and the written agreement (rider) states that the preferential rent is what the tenant will pay for the “life of the tenancy"; or
• The tenant lives in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) unit, is paying an amount less than the legal regulated rent, and submits the required LIHTC rider document
• The tenant’s current lease starts on or after June 14, 2019 and indicates a preferential rent

August 2019 Preferential Rent Freeze Policy Update

Under the new rent regulation laws passed in 2019, tenants who have a preferential rent agreement can continue to pay their preferential rent amount for the duration of their tenancy. There is an exception where the building is subject to a regulatory agreement and it receives federal rental assistance.

Changes for leases beginning on or after June 14, 2019:

• New Rent Freeze applicants who have a preferential rent agreement and meet all program eligibility criteria can have their rent frozen at their preferential rent amount. The tax abatement credit issued to landlords will be based upon rent guidelines board increases to the preferential rent amount
• For current Rent Freeze Program participants: If your frozen rent is based upon the legal regulated rent, the next time you renew, if you continue to meet all eligibility criteria, your rent may be re-frozen at the preferential rent amount on the lease in effect June 14, 2019

Landlords

Landlords will see that their tax abatement credits will be based upon the preferential rent amounts. The credit will be the difference between the frozen rent amount and the preferential rent amount.

Applicants

New applicants must provide a prior and current lease that clearly indicate the preferential rent amounts. If the amounts are not listed on your lease, be sure to attach your preferential rent lease riders.

If you are already participating in the program, please do not submit a request for an adjustment until it is time for you to renew. Adjustments to your frozen rent will be reviewed upon your next renewal. If your preferential rent is listed in a separate lease rider provide the rider along with your lease.

Exemptible Increases are covered and paid for by the Rent Freeze Program.

These must be approved by the appropriate State or City agency and include:

• Lease renewal increases granted by the Rent Guidelines Board for rent-stabilized apartments
• A rent demand renewal increase for residential hotel units
• A maximum collectible rent increase for rent-controlled apartments
• A Fuel Cost Adjustment to compensate a landlord for fuel increases
• An increase due to a Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Order for building-wide renovations like a new boiler or roof (as long as that Order is issued within 90 days of the date of the tenant's initial Rent Freeze application)

Non-Exemptible Increases

Non-Exemptible Increases can’t be considered for an exemption and won't be paid for by the Rent Freeze Program.

These include:

• A first lease in a new apartment
• Doorman, maid or janitor, air conditioning or intercom services
• Individual apartment improvements, additions, or adjustments, such as painting, new lighting fixtures, new equipment, furniture or other furnishings
• Security deposits
• Rental charges for garages and other facilities
• Retroactive Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Orders (Orders not issued within 90 days of the initial Rent Freeze application date)
• Utility costs such as gas, electricity, and cable

To be eligible for SCRIE, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be 62 or older.
• You must be named on the lease or the rent order or have been granted succession rights to the apartment.
• Your rental apartment must be registered with the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) as rent stabilized, rent controlled, or a regulated hotel unit.
• The apartment must be your primary residence, meaning you live there for the majority of the year.
• The total combined income for all members of your household can't be more than $50,000 for the prior calendar year (SCRIE records all income sources, taxable, and non-taxable. Please note you cannot deduct your medical expenses).
• You must spend more than one-third of your monthly household income on rent.
• No one in your household is already receiving SCRIE, DRIE, Section 8, or another housing benefit.

Ineligible Apartments 

If you live in one of the following, you are not eligible for SCRIE:

• Public housing units administered by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
• Non-rent-regulated apartments, such as those in private homes and private co-op buildings that are not subject to rent regulation
• Section 8 or Section 202 Housing
• Sublet apartments, even if they are rent regulated

Rent-Controlled Apartments

For rent-controlled apartments, your rent increase must be authorized as "exemptible" before it may be paid by SCRIE on your behalf. If there is a rent increase during the same lease period, SCRIE will recalculate your portion of the rent so that the increase may be exempt in the future.

To apply for SCRIE, you must complete the SCRIE Initial Application. Make sure to include all the required information and documents before you submit your application package or processing will be delayed. If COVID-19 is preventing you from getting the needed documents, you should submit any documents that you can and DOF will contact you to determine what other documents are needed.

You can submit your application online or by mail.

Online

You can submit your application online through the New York City Tenant Access Portal (NYC TAP). NYC TAP allows tenants and their representatives to access and update important information related to the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE).

Registration

You must log in to NYC.ID to access NYC TAP. If you have an existing NYC.ID account you can use that to log in. If you do not have an NYC.ID account you can log in using one of the social media/email options or create an account.

Access the Tenant Access Portal (TAP).

If you are a first-time applicant follow the information in the First Time Applicant Walk-Through guides.

Download the Tenant Representative First Time Applicant Walk-Through.

Download the Tenant First Time Applicant Walk-Through.

By Mail

Mail to:

New York City Department of Finance
Rent Freeze Program - SCRIE
P.O. Box 3179
Union, NJ 07083

You can get the application online, by mail, or in person at a DOF Business Center.

Online

Download the SCRIE Initial Application.

Download the SCRIE Initial Application in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.

By Mail

Your application must include copies of proof of age, income, and rent. These documents must be copies, not originals. The list of required documents is also provided on the SCRIE application.

Proof of Age

You can prove your age by providing a copy of your:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Driver license
• Non-driver ID
• Another federal, state, or city document with your date of birth on it

Proof of Income

You can prove your income by providing a copy your tax returns and attached schedules from the last calendar year.

If you’re not required to file taxes, use any documentation that shows how you and your family members receive income, such as:

• Social Security statements
• Pension statements
• IRA earnings statements
• Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation or Disability Pension benefit statements
• USPS Disability Compensation or Disability Pension benefit statements
• Current budget letter from the Human Resources Administration
• W-2 and 1099 statements for all household members
• Workman's Compensation Notice of Decision

If you receive cash gifts from family or friends to supplement your income, the person who gives you the money must write a letter detailing how often and how much you were paid in the last calendar year.

Proof of Rent

You have to provide documents proving that you live in an eligible apartment.

Rent-Stabilized Apartments

• Prior and the current lease, signed by both the tenant and landlord
• Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Order if the landlord has provided it to you
• If applicable, submit a copy of your preferential rent rider, low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), 80/20 rider, 60/40 rider, or your DHCR Rent history

Rent-Controlled Apartments

• Prior and current year Notice of Maximum Collectible Rent (Form RN-26)
• Prior and current year owner's report and Certification of Fuel Cost Adjustment (Form R33.10)
• Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Order if the landlord has provided it to you

Hotel Stabilized Apartments

• The DHCR annual apartment registration for the prior and the current year
• The signed rent increase letter from the management or owner, OR
• Your DHCR rent history.

Requests for Additional Documents

After you have submitted your SCRIE initial application, you may be mailed a Pending Notice with a request for additional documentation. If you received a request, mail your documents along with a copy of the Pending Notice to:

NYC Department of Finance
SCRIE Unit
P.O. Box 3130
Union, NJ 07083

You can get help completing a Rent Freeze application. Make sure to gather the required documents before meeting with or contacting an assistor.

It may take up to 4 weeks from the mailing date for the application to be processed and its status to become available.

The Department of Finance (DOF) will review your application to determine your eligibility. Within 45 days, they will mail you a notice with the status of your application. The notice will indicate your docket number, which is how the SCRIE program identifies you.

The status of your initial application could be approved, denied, or pending for additional information or documentation.

Approved Applications

If all necessary information has been received and your application has been processed, DOF calculates your frozen rent amount and the exemption amount, also known as the Tax Abatement Credit (TAC), for your landlord. The frozen rent amount is the amount you’re responsible for paying.

The Approval Order includes:

• The frozen rent amount
• The amount your landlord will be credited
• The exemption period and benefit end date

An Owner Approval Order with this same information will be sent to your landlord.

Until you receive your Approval Order, you’re required to pay the full rent amount.

After you receive it, your landlord must adjust the rent amount, including any retroactive adjustments. Once approved, the SCRIE benefit frozen rent starts on the first of the month following the date DOF received your application. If you paid more than the frozen amount during the time your application was being approved, your landlord is required to credit you for this overpayment. It is up to your landlord how to reimburse you.

Pending Applications

If there’s anything missing in your application, you'll be mailed a Pending Notice which will list the additional information or documentation required.

Note that the mailing address for submitting additional requested documents is different than the one you mailed your initial application to.

Mail the Pending Notice along with the documentation requested to:

NYC Department of Finance
SCRIE Unit
P.O. Box 3179
Union, NJ 07083

Denied Applications

If you do not qualify for the exemption, DOF will send you a denial letter. You can appeal the denial. To learn more, go to the Rent Freeze Program Assistance page.

DOF updates SCRIE and DRIE tenant status reports on its website every week.

The report includes application status and information for current Rent Freeze Program participants and those active within the past year. It is organized by borough and docket number.

If you recently mailed an application, it may take up to 4 weeks from the mailing date for the application to be processed and for the status to be available.

Check your SCRIE status.

Check your DRIE status.

Your benefit end date is on your approval letter. The end date depends on the type of apartment you have and when you were approved. The Department of Finance mails a renewal application about 60 days before your expiration date.

If you live in a rent-stabilized apartment, your SCRIE benefits expire when your lease does. If you have a 1-year lease, your SCRIE benefits expire after the year; if you have a 2-year lease, they expire after the second year.

If you live in a rent-controlled apartment, your SCRIE benefits expire on December 31st of every odd year, for example, December 31, 2017; December 31, 2019; and so on. DOF will mail you the renewal application in November.

If you live in a hotel unit, your SCRIE benefits expire on the expiration date on your demand or increase notice or lease.

For information about renewing your benefit, visit the Rent Freeze Program Renewal page.

The NYC Rent Freeze Program Guide contains information on eligibility, first-time applications, benefit renewal, and other program-related topics.

Online

Download the Rent Freeze Guide.

By Mail