The Rent Guidelines Board votes on rent increases for one million stabilized apartments on June 25. Public hearings run across the boroughs beforehand. Here's how to make your voice count.
What's at Stake
On June 25, 2026, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) will take its final vote on rent adjustments for approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments — affecting an estimated 2.4 million tenants citywide. The preliminary vote in May set a range of 0–2% for one-year leases and 0–4% for two-year leases. The board can set the final number anywhere within or below that range — including zero.
Mayor Mamdani, who appointed six of the nine RGB members, ran on a platform of rent freeze. The final outcome is not guaranteed, but the composition of the board and the volume of tenant testimony both influence the result.
Public Hearings
The RGB holds public hearings across the five boroughs before the final vote. Scheduled sessions have included Queens and the Bronx in early June; check rgb.nyc.gov for the full calendar and any remaining sessions before June 25. If you cannot attend in person, the RGB also accepts written testimony by email — check rgb.nyc.gov for the submission address and deadline.
How to Testify
In person: Arrive before the listed start time to sign up for testimony. Speakers are typically given two to three minutes each. Bring a written version of your testimony in case you are cut short — you can submit it to the clerk for the record.
What to say: The board is required by law to consider data on tenant financial hardship, landlord operating costs, and housing market conditions. Your testimony is most effective when it is specific and personal:
- How much is your current rent?
- What percentage of your income goes to rent?
- What would a 2% or 4% increase mean for your household?
- Have conditions in your building improved or deteriorated?
Written testimony: Email testimony to the address listed at rgb.nyc.gov. Keep it concise — one to two paragraphs with specific numbers carries more weight than a lengthy general statement.
Context
The RGB is an independent nine-member board appointed by the mayor. Six of the current nine members were appointed by Mamdani. The board has voted some level of rent increase every year for decades — a rent freeze would be a rare and historic outcome.
Landlord groups have argued that operating costs have increased significantly and that a freeze would jeopardize maintenance and building quality. Tenant advocates counter that rents have risen faster than incomes for years and that stabilized tenants are already paying an outsized share of household income on housing.
The public hearing record formally influences the board's deliberations. High turnout and specific, documented testimony have historically shaped the final vote.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the RGB final vote in 2026? June 25, 2026.
Can any tenant testify at an RGB hearing? Yes. RGB hearings are open to the public. Any New Yorker can sign up to testify — you do not need to be a rent-stabilized tenant.
What is the preliminary rent increase range for 2026? The preliminary vote set a range of 0–2% for one-year leases and 0–4% for two-year leases. The final vote can be anywhere within or below those ranges.
Related NYC Housing Guides
- How to Check If Your Apartment Is Rent-Stabilized in 2026
- What Is the Warranty of Habitability?
- NYC's Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants: What It Can Do for You
Sources: NYC Rent Guidelines Board; City Limits Housing Calendar, June 2026; The City, May 7, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
