Real Estate
Home›Real Estate›Residential›NYC landlords sue rent board over claim of mayor-drive…
NYC landlords sue rent board over claim of mayor-driven rent freeze
The complaint, filed Wednesday, seeks expedited discovery into alleged interactions between Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration and the Rent Guidelines Board.
A group of landlords filed a lawsuit in New York City challenging last month’s rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, arguing the Rent Guidelines Board’s process was illegally influenced by the mayor, according to Bisnow.
The Rent Guidelines Board voted June 25 to freeze rents on all stabilized leases for one- and two-year agreements, and the landlords claim the board failed to act independently and effectively “reverse-engineered” the evidence used to justify the freeze. They also argue the mayor is not legally permitted to influence the board’s decision-making.
The lawsuit alleges Mayor Zohran Mamdani stacked the board with “loyalists,” and says the administration spent millions to fill board hearings with tenant advocates. Representing the plaintiffs, Dechert co-Chair Randy Mastro said the process was a “sham” with a predetermined outcome, and that the case is intended to serve as a check on the mayor’s alleged abuse of power, the outlet reported.
The landlords are also asking the court to expedite discovery of any interactions between the Mamdani administration and the board. Among the examples cited, the complaint alleges a deputy chief of staff entered a restricted green room the night of a preliminary vote and that the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice held a special briefing to the board on May 21, Bisnow said.