Rent Stabilization: A Guide to Affordable Housing and Tenant Protections

A rent-stabilized apartment is a rental home where the government limits how much the rent can go up.

Because landlords can only raise rent by a set amount each year, rent-stabilized apartments can make housing costs more predictable and can protect renters from sudden, large rent increases that might force them to move.

In many places, rent stabilization also gives renters added protections, such as rules around eviction and the right to renew a lease. The exact rules depend on where you live.
 

What is rent stabilization?

Rent stabilization is a type of rent regulation meant to:
 

1. limit rent increases
2. help keep housing affordable, especially for low- and moderate-income renters
3. reduce the chance that long-term residents are pushed out because rent becomes too expensive

 

Rent-stabilized vs. rent-controlled: What’s the difference?

Both systems restrict rent increases, but they work differently:
 

• Rent-controlled apartment: Rent is generally frozen for the current tenant. Rent usually increases only when a new tenant moves in (rules vary by location).
• Rent-stabilized apartment: Rent can increase, but increases are limited. These limits can apply year to year and sometimes between leases, even when a new tenant moves in.

In short, rent stabilization typically allows modest, controlled increases, while rent control tends to be more rigid.
 

Key differences

 

• Flexibility: Rent stabilization allows some rent increases; rent control may keep rent the same or allow only very small changes.
• How common they are: Rent-controlled units are often tied to older buildings and special rules. Rent-stabilized apartments are often more common in expensive cities, such as New York City.
• Who the protections apply to: Rent control often depends on the same tenant staying in the unit. Rent stabilization is usually tied to the unit itself, as long as it qualifies under local rules.

 

How does rent stabilization work?

Rent stabilization typically sets a maximum percentage that rent can increase each year. The allowed increase is often decided by a local rent board and may be based on economic measures such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The specific rules vary, but rent stabilization often applies to certain types of buildings—for example:
 

1. buildings built before a certain year, and/or
2. buildings with a certain number of units

Local government agencies usually manage these programs and may offer online tools or forms to help renters find out whether a unit is rent-stabilized.
 

How do I know if my apartment is rent-stabilized?

Start by checking the rules for your state, city, or county, because not every place has rent stabilization.

The information provided notes that only eight states plus Washington, D.C. have rent stabilization laws or other rent protection policies at the state/local level:
 

• California
• District of Columbia
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oregon

If you live in an area with rent stabilization, you can often request your apartment’s rental history from the local agency in charge of rent rules.

Usually, only the current tenant can request it. This history may show whether the unit is rent-stabilized and what the legal rent is.

Examples from the provided information:
 

• New York City: You can contact NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
• Los Angeles: You can use the County Rent Registry to check coverage.

 

How to find rent-stabilized apartments

Here are practical steps that can help:

Look for older buildings

Rent stabilization often applies to older buildings, sometimes those with six or more units and built before a certain date. The exact cutoff date depends on local law.

Search online listings

Use rental search sites to look in neighborhoods where rent stabilization is common. Some sites and local platforms (like StreetEasy in New York City) may offer filters for rent-stabilized units.

Confirm the apartment’s status

Ask the building’s management directly whether the unit is rent-stabilized, and then verify through the appropriate local agency if possible.

Consider other affordable housing options

If rent stabilization isn’t available where you live, programs such as housing choice vouchers may help make rent more affordable through other means.
 

Bottom line

Rent-stabilized apartments can offer renters steadier rent increases and more stability, but the rules and availability vary a lot depending on location.

If you think a unit may be rent-stabilized, research local laws, use trusted housing resources, and verify the unit’s status through the proper agency whenever possible.

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