Rent CalculatorOvercharge

Estimate how much you may be owed if you're being overcharged on a rent stabilized apartment in NYC.

⚠️ Important: This Tool is for Rent Stabilized Apartments Only

Rent overcharge claims only apply to rent stabilized apartments. Not sure if yours qualifies?

Rents are frozen for the 2026-2027 lease year. On June 25, 2026 the NYC Rent Guidelines Board adopted Apartment and Loft Order #58, which sets the increase at 0% for a one-year renewal and 0% for a two-year renewal, for leases commencing on or after October 1, 2026 and on or before September 30, 2027. The year before that, under Order #57, it was 3% and 4.5%. If you're rent-stabilized and your renewal starts inside the freeze window, there's no percentage to argue about. Any increase at all is above the guideline.

That doesn't automatically make it an overcharge case, and it isn't legal advice about your apartment. Other things can lawfully raise your rent on top of the guideline, an MCI or an IAI among them, and they follow their own rules. But a renewal offer inside the freeze window that raises your rent by any percentage is worth a second look. You can request your rent history from the state Office of Rent Administration by calling 1 (833) 499-0343, or through the inquiry form HCR links from its Office of Rent Administration page at portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask. Or fill out my intake form, email me your renewal offer, and I'll get back to you.

How This Calculator Works

This rent overcharge calculator estimates how much a rent-stabilized tenant may be owed if their current rent exceeds the legal regulated rent. The calculator applies the following methodology:

Inputs Required

The calculator requires your current monthly rent, when your tenancy began, and your lease type (1-year or 2-year). For a more accurate estimate, you can also provide the legal regulated rent from your DHCR rent history, or the prior tenant's rent if known.

Calculation Method 1: Known Legal Rent

If you provide the legal regulated rent from DHCR records, the calculator compares it directly to your current rent. The difference is the monthly overcharge amount.

Calculation Method 2: Estimate from Prior Tenant's Rent

If you provide the prior tenant's rent, the calculator applies annual Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) increases from that starting point to estimate what the current legal rent should be. Since the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) took effect on June 14, 2019, vacancy bonuses have been eliminated. The calculator applies the following RGB rates for lease renewals:

2026-2027: 0% (1-year), 0% (2-year), a rent freeze under RGB Order #58
2025-2026: 3.0% (1-year), 4.5% (2-year)
2024-2025: 2.75% (1-year), 5.25% (2-year)
2023-2024: 3.0% (1-year), 5.95% (2-year)
2022-2023: 3.25% (1-year), 5.0% (2-year)
2021-2022: 1.5% (1-year), 2.5% (2-year)
2020-2021: 0.0% (1-year), 1.0% (2-year)
2019-2020: 1.5% (1-year), 2.5% (2-year)
2018-2019: 1.5% (1-year), 2.5% (2-year)
2017-2018: 1.25% (1-year), 2.0% (2-year)

Recovery Estimation

If an overcharge is found, the calculator estimates potential recovery as follows:

Base overcharge: Monthly overcharge multiplied by months of tenancy, capped at 72 months (6 years) for post-HSTPA claims
Treble damages: If the overcharge is found willful, recovery can be tripled (3x the base amount)
Statutory interest: 9% annual interest on the base overcharge amount
No combined total: These amounts are shown separately. Whether statutory interest can be recovered in addition to treble damages is unsettled in New York, so this tool does not add them together

Important Limitations

This calculator provides estimates only. Actual legal rent and overcharge amounts can only be determined by NYS Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) or a court. Factors not included in this calculator include Individual Apartment Improvements (IAIs), Major Capital Improvements (MCIs), and other adjustments that may affect the legal rent. If preferential rent applies, increases since HSTPA must be based on the preferential rent rather than the legal registered rent.

DISCLAIMER: This tool provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and may not reflect your actual legal situation. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney. This information is current as of January 2026 and laws may have changed.

Rent overcharge amounts and legal rent can only be finally determined by NYS Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) or a court. Many factors affect calculations including Individual Apartment Improvements (IAIs), Major Capital Improvements (MCIs), and other adjustments.