DHCR Fact Sheets

NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal

DHCR Fact Sheets (series of thirty) are issued by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) as plain-English informational publications. For official agency policies, see DHCR Policy Statements, Advisory Opinions and Operational Bulletins. Also refer to the Rent Stabilization Code, the Rent Stabilization Law and various Rent Control Statutes.

Important:

DHCR "updated" their Fact Sheets in 1996. Although we have not had the opportunity to scrutinize these updates too closely, we've seen the agency incorporating many of its new pro-landlord (and illegal) policies. For example, the "new" fact sheets indicate tenants must contact their landlord before making a service complaint. There is no requirement that tenants must do this; many tenants are afraid to do this and DHCR knows their new policy helps landlord intimidation tactics. As another example, DHCR is now saying in these new Fact Sheets that tenants must request a rent reduction. This is a direct violation of the Hyde Park vs. DHCR Court of Appeals decision. Tenants must be very careful when reading these new updated fact sheets.

Tenants can always appeal irrational DHCR decisions through Petitions for Administrative Review (PARs) and beyond that through judicial appeals. The law is incorporated in the Rent Stabilization Law (RSL) for stabilized tenants, and not in DHCR Fact Sheets.

We are keeping the old Fact Sheets online so you may make comparisons. The new DHCR Fact Sheets are available as online text and also in downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

The new set of DHCR Fact Sheets also contain eight additional Fact Sheets affecting ETPA tenants -- mostly in Westchester, Nassau and Rockland Counties.

Electronic versions of the documents on TenantNet are for informational purposes only and there is no guarantee they will be accepted by any court (or even DHCR) as true copies of DHCR policy. The reader is advised to obtain true copies of these documents from DHCR.

Every attempt has been made to conform to the original Fact Sheets as issued by DHCR. TenantNet makes no representation the enclosed material is current or will be applied as written. The reader is advised that DHCR often fails to properly apply, interpret or enforce housing laws and that various sections of the rent laws have changed since these Fact Sheets were originally issued. Since housing laws are complex and often contradictory, it is recommended the reader obtain competent legal advice from a tenant attorney or counseling from a tenant association or community group.

For Fact Sheets prior to 1996, see below.
Click here to go to the new 1996 DHCR Fact Sheets.

Pre-1996 DHCR Fact Sheets

DHCR Fact Sheet #1

Rent Control and Rent Stabilization

DHCR Fact Sheet #2

Rent Stabilization Lease Rider

DHCR Fact Sheet #3

Required and Essential Services

DHCR Fact Sheet #4

Lease Renewal in Rent Stabilized Apartments

DHCR Fact Sheet #5

A Vacancy Lease

DHCR Fact Sheet #6

Fair Market Rents

DHCR Fact Sheet #7

Sublets, Assignments, and Illusory Tenancies

DHCR Fact Sheet #7a

How to Establish Primary Residence by a Tenant (this sheet was discontinued by DHCR in the 1980's)

DHCR Fact Sheet #8

Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (ETPA Ch. 576 of 1974)

DHCR Fact Sheet #9

Security Deposit

DHCR Fact Sheet #10

Eviction from an Apartment Based on Owner Occupancy

DHCR Fact Sheet #11

Rent Increases for Major Capital Improvements (MCI)

DHCR Fact Sheet #12

Rent Increases for New Services, Equipment, or Improvements to an Apt.

DHCR Fact Sheet #13

Fuel Cost Adjustment

DHCR Fact Sheet #14

Rent Reductions Due to Decreased Services

DHCR Fact Sheet #15

Heat and Hot Water

DHCR Fact Sheet #16

Collecting Owner's Overcharge in Rent Stabilized NYC Apartments

DHCR Fact Sheet #17

Harassment

DHCR Fact Sheet #18

Appealing a Rent Administrator's Order: Petition for Administrative Review (PAR)

DHCR Fact Sheet #19

Small Building Owners' Assistance Unit

DHCR Fact Sheet #20

Special Rights of Disabled Persons

DHCR Fact Sheet #21

Special Rights of Senior Citizens

DHCR Fact Sheet #22

Maximum Base Rent Program (MBR) Q&A

DHCR Fact Sheet #23

Fuel Cost Adjustment Q&A

DHCR Fact Sheet #24

Major Capital Improvements (MCI) Q&A

DHCR Fact Sheet #25

Window Guards

DHCR Fact Sheet #26

Rent Increases for Stabilized Apts. in NYC through 92-93 year

DHCR Fact Sheet #27

Air Conditioners

DHCR Fact Sheet #28

Painting Rent Controlled Apartments

DHCR Fact Sheet #29

Conversion from Electrical Inclusion to Exclusion

DHCR Fact Sheet #30

Succession Rights