Can a New York landlord raise rent at lease renewal?

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes. The end of a fixed-term New York lease is the typical (and statutorily safest) time for a rent increase. The landlord serves a renewal offer with the new rent, with at least the statutory notice period before the current term ends (New York uses a tenure-based notice ladder at RPL 226-c: 30 days for tenancies under 1 year, 60 days for 1-2 years, 90 days for 2+ years. Only triggers if the increase exceeds 5% or the landlord does not renew. Good Cause Eviction (Part HH 2024) caps increases at CPI + 5% or 10% max in NYC and opt-in municipalities, with exemptions for small owner-occupied buildings and new construction.). The tenant has three options: accept and sign for the new term at the new rent, decline and vacate at term end, or stay past term end and convert to a holdover or month-to-month tenancy depending on state law. Where rent control applies, the renewal increase is capped at the statutory annual cap even at renewal. If the tenant continues paying the old rent past the renewal date without signing, New York courts often treat this as acceptance of the new rent only if the landlord has given proper written notice and accepted the new payment.