Rent Won't Go Up For 2M In NYC Amid Coronavirus, Mayor Says

NEW YORK, NY — More than 2 million tenants in New York City won't see their rents go up next year because of the new coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio promised Friday.

The mayor vowed to work with the state to put in place a "rent freeze" for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized units across the five boroughs so that those tenants won't need to worry about an increase in rent during the financial strain of the epidemic, which has put many New Yorkers out of work during a statewide stay-at-home order.

"We are in the midst of a crisis only comparable to the Great Depression," de Blasio said. "The people of our city are struggling and a rent freeze is the lifeline so many will need this year to stay above water."

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The freeze — which would suspend the Rent Guidelines Board process that usually figures out how much regulated rents rise each year — would keep rents the same for 2.3 million tenants, de Blasio said.

It would add to an existing 90-day moratorium on evictions put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he announced the stay-at-home order.

But de Blasio's "rent freeze" still doesn't go as far as freezes proposed by other New York City lawmakers, who say a full moratorium on collecting rent is needed during the pandemic to help those out of work.

Both Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Queens state Sen. Michael Gianaris have proposed a 90-day suspension of rent payments during the crisis.

Adams plan would include mortgage payments on all rental properties, since landlords who rely on rent payments as their primary source of income expressed concerns.

As of Friday evening, there were 26,697 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City and 450 deaths due to the virus, according to de Blasio.

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