The Journal News reported today that landlord representatives on the Westchester Rent Guidelines Board want a 5 percent increase for one-year leases and 9 percent for two-year leases last night. They also advocated for minimum monthly hikes of $50 for one-year leases and $90 for two-year leases in the lowest-cost apartments. A tenant representative argued against higher rents.
“All we’re asking is for the landlords to not lose ground,” said Kenneth Finger, a longtime owner member of the board. “Nobody is looking to rip anybody off.”
The increases would hurt longtime tenants who most need protections, said Genevieve Roche, one of two tenant members on the board. “We are being asked to approve increases that will shift out of the hands of tenants and their struggling families and into the pockets of owners a minimum of $13 million,” she said.
The Rent Guidelines Board, which sets annual increases for regulated apartments, votes next Wednesday on the matter. There are fewer than 30,000 apartments in Westchester County that are regulated under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act.
Rockland County this week approved 2 percent hikes for both one- and two-year leases.
