Rents Could Rise 6.5% For 2M NYers After Powerful Board's Vote

NEW YORK CITY — A 6.5 percent rent hike could be coming to New Yorkers after a powerful board's vote.

Rent Guidelines Board members Tuesday approved potential higher prices for more than two million city dwellers who live in rent-stabilized homes.

The approved ranges — which are preliminary ahead of a final debate and vote in June — are 2 percent to 4.5 percent for one-year leases, and 4 percent to 6.5 percent for two-year leases.

Advocates swiftly condemned board members for even considering rent increases.

"This increase will have devastating consequences for low-income tenants, many of whom are already rent burdened or severely rent burdened," a statement from The Legal Aid Society advocates reads.

"Regardless of the disappointing outcome of tonight's vote, the Board still has the opportunity to reconsider this decision and vote for a much-needed rent freeze come the final vote in June."

In an "Odd Couple"-esque pairing, Mayor Eric Adams also released a statement Tuesday after the vote that criticized the hike, at least on the ranges' top end.

"Our team is taking a close look at the preliminary ranges voted on by the Rent Guidelines Board this evening and while the Board has the challenging task of striking a balance between protecting tenants from infeasible rent increases and ensuring property owners can maintain their buildings as costs continue to rise, I must be clear that a 6.5 percent increase goes far beyond what is reasonable to ask tenants to take on at this time," Adams' statement reads.

The vote sets up a potential sequel to last year's Rent Guidelines Board debate over rent hikes.

Members ultimately, and controversially, approved 3 percent hikes for rent-stabilized tenants with one-year leases.