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Fact Sheet #21: Special Rights of Senior Citizens

The law grants certain exemptions from rent increases to tenants who are senior citizens.

If a tenant or tenant’s spouse is 62 years of age or older and is living in a rent regulated apartment, and the
combined household income is at or below the income eligibility level and they are paying at least 1/3 of their disposable
income toward their rent, the senior citizen tenant may qualify for the SENIOR CITIZEN RENT INCREASE
EXEMPTION (SCRIE).

If a tenant qualifies for this program, the tenant is exempt from future rent guidelines increases, Maximum Base
Rent increases, fuel cost adjustments, and increases based on the owner’s economic hardship and Major
Capital Improvements. However, the tenant must pay the additional security deposit.

SCRIE In New York City

In NYC, the Department of Finance (DOF) administers the SCRIE program.

To apply for SCRIE, the tenant of a NYC rent controlled or rent stabilized apartment must file an application with:

NYC Department of Finance
SCRIE/DRIE Exemption
59 Maiden Lane, 19th Floor
New York, New York 10038
Web Site: www.nyc.gov/dof

Tenants may also contact New York City's Citizen Service Center by dialing 311.

In NYC, the income eligibility level currently in effect is at $29,000. Tenants receiving a NYC Senior Citizen
Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) may choose a one-or two-year lease renewal. NYC senior citizen tenants may also
carry this exemption from one apartment to another upon moving, upon the proper application being made to DOF.

SCRIE Outside New York City

In the counties outside of NYC covered by the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, the New York State Division
of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) administers the SCRIE program. To apply for SCRIE, the tenant of
the rent regulated apartment must file an application with:

DHCR
District Rent Office
75 South Broadaway
White Plains, New York 10601
(914) 948-4434

Outside NYC, SCRIE is a local option and communities have different income eligibility limits and
exemption allowances. Seniors applying for a SCRIE are required to choose a two-year renewal lease.
Applications for SCRIE exemptions are made to the Division of Housing and Community Renewal on the Tax
Abatement Certificate and Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Application and Order (DHCR form RTP-13).
Owners receive certificates for real estate tax payment. If you live in Nassau or Westchester County, call
(914) 948-4434, to obtain an application and to inquire about your municipality's income eligibility level.

Municipalities outside of New York City with a SCRIE Program are listed below.

Nassau

Glen CoveTown of North Hempstead
 Village of Hempstead
Great Neck PlazaVillage of Thomaston

Westchester

Village of Dobbs Ferry
Town of GreenburghCity of New Rochelle
Village of Hastings on Hudson
Village of IrvingtonVillage of Pleasantville
Village of LarchmontVillage of Tarrytown
Town of MamaroneckVillage of Sleepy Hollow
Village of MamaroneckCity of White Plains
City of Mount VernonCity of Yonkers
City of Rye

Other rights for senior citizens include:

  1. If a building is being converted to cooperative or condominium ownership under an Eviction Plan, an "eligible
    senior citizen" may refuse to purchase the apartment and remain in occupancy as a fully protected rent stabilized
    tenant with the right to a lease renewal. Rent controlled senior citizen tenants are similarly protected against eviction.

    “Eligible senior citizens” are tenants who are primary residents in the apartment and are at least 62 years of
    age or have a spouse 62 years of age or older on the date the New York State Attorney General accepts the
    Eviction Plan for filing.

    To take advantage of this benefit, an eligible senior citizen in NYC must elect, on forms provided by the
    Attorney General, to become a "non-purchasing” tenant within 60 days of the date that the Final Offering Plan
    is presented to the tenants. Outside NYC, there is no formal election requirement.
  2. An owner cannot evict a tenant from rent stabilized apartments in NYC for the purpose of owner occupancy,
    when either the tenant or the tenant’s spouse is 62 years of age or older unless the owner provides an equivalent
    or superior apartment at the same or lower rent in an area near the tenant’s apartment.
  3. For rent stabilized apartments outside NYC and rent controlled apartments statewide, an owner may not evict a
    tenant for the purpose of owner occupancy where any member of the tenant's household is 62 years of age or
    older.
  4. A NYC senior citizen with a currently valid SCRIE order is not required to pay any portion of a fuel cost
    increase that would raise the total rent to over 1/3 of the tenant's household disposable income. A senior
    citizen who applies for and is granted a SCRIE order within 90 days after receipt of the owner’s fuel
    cost adjustment report, are retroactively exempt from paying any portion of the most recent fuel cost
    adjustment that would raise the total rent to over 1/3 of the tenant's total household disposable income.
  5. A tenant 62 years of age or older may terminate his/her lease, without penalty, in order to move into a
    health care facility or senior citizen housing complex. If the senior citizen terminates the lease in order to
    move into a health care facility or senior citizen housing complex, the owner must receive at least 30
    days written notice, accompanied by documentation of admission or pending admission to the health care
    facility or senior citizen housing complex.

For more information or assistance, call the DHCR Rent InfoLine, or call or visit your Borough or County Rent Office.

 

Queens
92-31 Union Hall Street
6th Floor
Jamaica, NY 11433
(718) 739-6400		 Lower Manhattan
25 Beaver Street
5th Floor
New York, NY
10004
South side of 110th St. and below
Brooklyn
55 Hanson Place
7th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217

 Bronx
2400 Halsey Street
Bronx, NY 10461
Upper Manhattan
163 W. 125th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10027
North side of 110th St. and above		 Westchester
75 South Broadway
3rd Floor
White Plains,NY 10601

 

Revised: 02/13

Last updated on 02/22/13

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