Rent freeze for seniors
Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) | NYC Department of Finance (DOF), NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
1. How it Works
SCRIE helps eligible senior citizens 62 and older stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent. Tenants can keep paying what they were paying even if their landlord increases the rent. The landlord gets a property tax credit that covers the difference between the new and original rent amount.
Only senior citizens who live in certain rentals or developments can qualify for SCRIE.
Renew on time to keep paying the same amount of rent in the future as you do now.
You are not required to file taxes to qualify for SCRIE.
You do not need your landlord’s permission to apply.
The NYC Rent Freeze program also includes the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) for people with disabilities.
2. Determine your eligibility
To be eligible for SCRIE, you should be able to answer “yes” to all of these questions:
Are you 62 or older?
Is your name on the lease (or the share certificate if you live in a Mitchell-Lama development)?
Is your combined household income $50,000 or less in a year?
Do you spend more than one-third of your monthly income on rent?
Do you live in NYC in one of these types of housing?
a rent stabilized apartment
a rent controlled apartment
a rent regulated hotel or single room occupancy unit
a Mitchell-Lama development
a Limited Dividend Housing Company development
a Redevelopment Company development
a Housing Development Fund Company development
3. What you need to include
To apply for SCRIE, you will need copies of documents that prove:
Who you are (and your age)
Where you live
You need to prove your rent which includes prior and current documents or leases.
Income
This includes your income and the income of all household members who lived in your apartment for the year before you submit your application. For example, if you apply in 2023, you will need income information for 2022.
4. How to apply
Here are your options.
Apply online
Complete the online application through the Department of Finance (DOF) if you are applying for SCRIE for the first time.
You can get help applying to SCRIE by scheduling a virtual appointment with DOF.
Apply by mail
Print and complete the initial application (or call 311 for an application).
Mail your completed and signed application along with supporting documents to:
Rent Freeze Program – SCRIE
P.O. Box 3179
Union, NJ 07083
If you live in Mitchell-Lama or Redevelopment Company development housing:
Download the HPD SCRIE application and complete it.
Email your completed application to SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov or mail it to:
HPD SCRIE Unit
100 Gold Street, 7th floor
New York, New York, 10038
Apply in person
Apply at a Department of Finance Assistance Center. You may need to schedule an appointment.