Background

HISTORY

The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program protects low-income tenants aged 62 and older from certain rent increases in rent regulated apartments and certain types of cooperative apartments. Municipalities throughout NYS have the choice to implement the program or not. SCRIE is available in New York City and several municipalities in Nassau and Westchester counties.

In 1970, the New York City Council established the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program for tenants residing in rent regulated apartments and hotel units. In 1976, the SCRIE program was extended to eligible tenants in Mitchell-Lama, limited dividend companies, redevelopment companies, Section 213 cooperatives, or Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative apartments. In 2005, the program expanded to include individuals with disabilities, and is known as the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE). SCRIE and DRIE together are known as the NYC Rent Freeze Program. For information on DRIE, refer to Housing Programs and Services, DRIE.

ADMINISTRATION

Originally the SCRIE program in NYC was administered by the Department of the Aging. In September 2009, the administration of SCRIE for rent regulated apartments and hotel units was transferred to the NYC Department of Finance (DOF). From the beginning, NYC’s Department of Housing and Preservation Development (HPD) has administered the SCRIE program for State and NYC Mitchell-Lama cooperatives and rentals, limited dividend companies, redevelopment companies, Section 213 cooperatives, or Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative apartments and continues to do so. DOF and HPD have slightly different processes for how they administer the benefit.

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 before the City can implement any such increases.

In counties outside of NYC, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) administers the SCRIE program. For more information, visit https://hcr.ny.gov/disabled-persons-and-senior-citizens-special-rights.

FUNDING

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

Summary of SCRIE

SCRIE enables eligible seniors who live in rent regulated apartments and hotel units, State and NYC Mitchell-Lama cooperatives and rentals, limited dividend companies, redevelopment companies, Section 213 cooperatives, and Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative apartments to receive an exemption from paying certain increases in their rent.

Applicants must be at least 62 years old, be named on the lease/rent order, live in an eligible apartment, pay more than 1/3 of the household’s income in rent, and have a countable annual income of no more than $50,000. Applicants in rent regulated apartments and hotel units apply through the DOF. Applicants in State and NYC Mitchell-Lama cooperatives and rentals, limited dividend companies, redevelopment companies, Section 213 cooperatives, and Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative apartments apply through HPD.