Landlords Can Legally Increase Rent with These in New York State

Are you going to start getting charged more money to live in you apartment? You could be. There are things called Individual Apartment Increases in New York State that could increase your rent.

There are always so many laws that are very specifically designed by New York State to protect the tenant and the landlord. They sometimes seem unfair, depending on what side you are on, but this situation can increase your rent whether you like it or not.

They are called Individual Apartment Increases and that is when a landlord decides that he or she wants to make an improvement to an apartment whether it be a floor, new appliances, etc.

According to the Residential Tenants Rights Guide in New York State:

• In buildings that contain more than 35 apartments, the landlord can collect a permanent rent increase equal to 1/180th of the cost of the improvement (maximum $83.33).
• In buildings that contain 35 apartments or less, the landlord may collect a permanent rent increase equal to 1/168th of the cost of the IAI (maximum $89.29).

There are a couple of catches, though.

• A landlord can only do this 3 times within a 15 year period.
• As a landlord, make sure you take before and after pictures.
• The landlord HAS to get licensed contractors to do the work for them.
• If someone occupies the apartment you have to get permission for a time to do the work from the tenant.
• The total costs eligible for a rent increase calculation cannot exceed $15,000.
• A landlord is able increase the rent because of increased labor costs.