SCRIE

The New York City Council established the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program in 1970 to protect low-income tenants aged 62 and over from certain rent increases in Rent Controlled and Rent Stabilized apartments. In 1976 SCRIE was extended to eligible tenants in certain rental and cooperative apartments in buildings subject to Articles II, IV, V or XI of the New York State Private Housing Finance Law or subject to a federally insured mortgage pursuant to Section 213 of the National Housing Act. This latter category shall be referred to herein collectively as “Mitchell-Lama” apartments.

Over the years, tenant advocates proposed expanding SCRIE to include low-income disabled tenants who are not senior citizens. In October 2005, the New York City Council established the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) program, which protects eligible, low-income, disabled tenants from rent increases. Although the programs are similar, SCRIE and DRIE have different eligibility rules and regulations. For information on DRIE, refer to Housing Programs and Services, DRIE.

State law provides municipalities with an option to provide the SCRIE program for its older citizens. SCRIE is available in New York City and several municipalities in Nassau and Westchester counties.

In counties outside of NYC, the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) administers the SCRIE program. In NYC, with regard to Rent Controlled and Rent Stabilized apartments, the SCRIE program was administered for many years first by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and then by the Department for the Aging (DFTA), until September 18, 2009 when the City transferred the administration of the program to the Department of Finance. Now both SCRIE and DRIE are administered by the Department of Finance, which has access to income and other data simplifying the applications process. Rules and regulations regarding the SCRIE program are in New York City’s Administrative Code. However, the New York State Legislature must approve increases in the income eligibility guidelines.

SCRIE is funded by the City of New York through a loss of tax revenue. The City of New York provides landlords a dollar-for-dollar property tax abatement credit (TAC) that makes up the difference between the amount of rent paid by the SCRIE participant and the legal rental amount. The Department of Finance authorizes the TAC’s and transfers the credit to the building owner’s property tax account.

SCRIE enables eligible seniors who live in Rent Controlled, Rent Stabilized or Mitchell-Lama apartments, or certain Rent Stabilized hotel units, to receive an exemption from paying certain increases in their rent. In order to be eligible, applicants must be at least 62 years old, have annual incomes below $29,000 and a rent amount that is at least one-third of their disposable income. Applicants in Rent Controlled or Rent Stabilized apartments apply through the City’s Department of Finance. Applicants in Mitchell-Lama apartments (rental or cooperative) apply through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.