Court Upholds NYC Rent Guidelines Order

RSA sued the Rent Guidelines Board, challenging Rent Guidelines Board Order No. 37. RGBO Order No. 37 set rent increases for the year between Oct. 1, 2005, and Sept. 30, 2006. RSA said that the RGB didn't provide an explanation of its findings for the prior year, as required by law. These findings form the basis for the rent increases granted. The RGB asked the court to dismiss the case. The court ruled for the RGB. The RGB filed an Explanatory Statement that contained specific factual information, including summaries of year 2005 reports on the price index for operating costs, an income and expense review using a sample size of 12,000 buildings, mortgage interest surveys, and a consumer price index for the New York metropolitan area from 1998 through 2005. The Explanatory Statement also summarized testimony from tenants, landlords, and public officials. And the format of the Explanatory Statement was the same as those issued in connection with RGBOs 35 and 36, which weren't challenged.

Rent Stabilization Assn. of NYC, Inc. v. N.Y.C. Rent Guidelines Board: NYLJ, 6/7/06, p. 26, col. 1 (Sup. Ct. NY; James, J)