What is a CPI-linked rent increase in New York?

A CPI-linked rent increase ties the annual rent adjustment to the federal Consumer Price Index. New York statewide rent caps that include a CPI factor (such as California's AB 1482, which uses 5 percent plus regional CPI capped at 10 percent total) measure CPI for the relevant region in the 12 months preceding the increase. A landlord using CPI-linked rent in a non-rent-cap New York jurisdiction can use any CPI measure (national, regional, or "all urban consumers" CPI-U), but the lease must specify which one and the calculation method. Tenants should verify the math: published CPI numbers are public on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, and a 1 percent error in CPI calculation on a 1-year tenancy at $1,500 rent is $180 over-paid. 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.

Source: RPL 226-c (HSTPA 2019)