How to Check if Your Apartment Is Rent‑Stabilized (DIY Guide)

TL;DR – Two free look‑ups (HPD + DHCR) give you near‑certain answers. RentReboot can’t verify an existing lease, but we will alert you the moment a newly‑listed 'verified' or 'likely' rent‑stabilized unit hits the market.


Rent-stabilized Apartments in NYC

  • Legal protections as rent stabilization means your landlord can’t just raise the rent by any amount, and you have the right to renew your lease.
  • Money at stake because if you’ve been overcharged, you might be owed a refund;and sometimes even triple the amount.
  • Leverage if you know what the legal rent should be. You can push back if your landlord tries to charge more.

Step 1 ▸ Run a quick building check in HPD Online

  1. Go to HPD Online and enter your building address.
  2. Look for the Registration Summary. If it shows “Rent‑Stabilized Units” > 0, the building is definitely governed.
  3. Screenshot the page, it might be helpful later if you need to press the landlord.

Heads‑up: Buildings with fewer than 6 residential units are rarely stabilized; skip to Step 4 if yours is tiny.


Step 2 ▸ Verify year‑built & unit‑count using NYC PLUTO

  1. Go to NYC Planning → Map PLUTO download (free CSV) or use the NYC Zoning & Land Use Map (ZoLa).
  2. Confirm the YearBuilt ≤ 1974 and the UnitsRes ≥ 6.
  3. If both are true, odds are high your apartment should be stabilized.

PLUTO data is super easy to navigate and one lookup takes under 60 sec.


Step 3 ▸ Pull your official DHCR rent history (free)

  1. Email rentinfo@hcr.ny.gov or fax (718‑739‑6406) with:
    • your name
    • apartment & building address
    • copy of government‑issued ID + proof of tenancy (utility bill or lease)
  2. DHCR mails the full rent roll within 2–4 weeks.

Need it sooner? Some tenant‑rights orgs in NYC do same‑day pickup for ~$40.


Step 4 ▸ Compare the numbers

YearDHCR Legal rentYour paid rentDifference
2023$2,145$2,475+$330
2024$2,209$2,640+$431
Example: Comparing your rent to the DHCR legal rent (for illustration only)

If the difference is more than 5% for any year, you might have been overcharged. If your landlord charged you a lot more than the legal rent, you could be owed money back. If DHCR agrees you were overcharged, they can order your landlord to refund the extra rent you paid;sometimes with interest or even penalties. It’s like getting a refund for being overbilled!

Overcharge claims can take time, but tenants often get thousands back if they win.


Flags that “This unit should be Rent-Stabilized”

  • Building has > 6 residential units & was built before 1974.
  • Landlord calls the rent “preferential”.
  • Post‑2019 increases look suspicious.
  • You signed a vacancy lease rider without RGB rent schedule attached.

Spot two or more? You're likely in a rent-stabilized unit.


What if my apartment isn't rent-stabilized?

  1. Negotiate anyway and show comparable Rent-Stabilized rents in the building.
  2. Watch RGB increases as they still anchor neighborhood pricing.
  3. Set alerts so RentReboot notifies you the instant a verified Rent-Stabilized unit matching your budget appears.

FAQ

Does a doorman building automatically mean free‑market?
No. Plenty of pre‑1974 doorman rentals remain stabilized;always check.

Can I file an overcharge claim without a lawyer?
Yes. DHCR has a self‑service form (RA‑89) but success rates jump 3× with legal help. NYC legal‑aid orgs offer free consultations.

How long does DHCR keep rent records?
Generally back to 1984; prior data may be incomplete.


Next step → Get alerted to get verified Rent-Stabilized listings

👉 Subscribe to RentReboot alerts and we’ll ping you the moment a new rent‑stabilized apartment hits the market.