Affordable housing · rent freeze
SCRIE and DRIE: freezing the rent in a regulated apartment
How the NYC Rent Freeze Program works: SCRIE for tenants 62 and older, DRIE for tenants with disabilities, income limits, which apartments qualify, how landlords receive the tax credit, and how to apply.
Photo: Jim.henderson, CC0At a glance
- Run by
- NYC Department of Finance
- SCRIE
- Tenants 62 or older in rent-regulated apartments
- DRIE
- Tenants 18 or older with a qualifying disability benefit
- Income limit
- Household income under the program limit, rent over one third of income
- Landlord
- Receives a property tax credit equal to the frozen increase
Seniors and people with disabilities in regulated apartments.
How the freeze works
The tenant’s rent is frozen at the current legal rent. When the landlord is entitled to an increase, the Department of Finance gives the landlord a tax abatement credit for the difference instead of the tenant paying it. The tenant keeps the apartment affordable; the landlord is made whole.
Which apartments qualify
- Rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments, Mitchell-Lama rentals and certain HDFC and hotel-stabilized units.
- Not market-rate or NYCHA apartments; NYCHA sets rent by income already.
For landlords and managers
- Apply the frozen rent as soon as the approval letter arrives and claim the credit on the tax bill.
- Renewals are the tenant’s responsibility, but a reminder from management prevents lapses that hit both sides.
Questions
Common questions about SCRIE and DRIE rent freeze
A tenant who moves to another eligible regulated apartment can apply for a portability transfer so the freeze continues.
Official sources
Program rules change; the agency page is the authority. Checked October 2026.
Brooklyn, NY
Placing a SCRIE and DRIE rent freeze household, or a unit that could take one?
Caseworkers refer clients at no cost to the tenant. Landlords send the vacancy and we bring a program-ready tenant with the agency’s packet done.
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0