Fact
Sheet #39 - Comparative and Alternative Hardship
The Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) and
Rent Stabilization Law (RSL) provide a mechanism for adjusting rents pursuant
to orders issued by the Rent Guidelines Boards, which determine, on an annual
basis, the rent adjustment if any, to which an owner is entitled upon execution
of new or renewal leases. Both the ETPA and RSL also provide, in the unusual
situation, where the rent adjustments are insufficient to permit a particular
property to keep up with increased operating costs, that the owner can file
with the DHCR an application for building-wide rent adjustments based upon
a hardship.
Comparative Hardship Outside of New York City
An owner must establish, by application, the existence of a hardship as
further defined, and the DHCR will determine whether additional adjustments
in rent are needed to enable the owner to maintain approximately the same
average ratio (as defined by usage) between operating expenses and gross
rents as was realized for the preceding five year period.
Comparative Hardship Inside New York City
DHCR grants an appropriate rent adjustment where:
- The owner has been unable to maintain the same average net income in
a current three year period when compared with the average net income during
a three year base period, generally defined as 1968 through 1970;
- The circumstances and accuracy of the information provided in the owner's
application have been adequately substantiated by submission of copies
of certified financial statements or federal income tax returns and other
pertinent documents which might be required; and
- All other pre-requisites for the granting of such rent adjustments have
been met.
In order to conform with the Rent Stabilization Code, to restore the owners
average net income in the current period to the average net income in the
base period (after adjustments). The result represents the dollar amount
of annual gross rent adjustment.
- The average net income for the current period is subtracted from the
average net income for the base period (after adjustments). The result
represents the dollar amount of annual gross rent adjustment.
- The dollar amount may be converted into a percentage rent adjustment
by dividing such amount by the annual gross rent roll of the stabilized
apartments submitted with the application. (The rent roll should be current
within two (2) months of the date of the filing of the application).
The collection of any adjustment in the legal regulated rent for any apartment
cannot exceed six (6) percent in any year from the effective date of the
order authorizing the adjustment over the rent set forth in the schedule
of gross rents.
Alternative Hardship
Rent adjustments based upon alternative hardship enable owners of buildings
not owned as cooperatives or condominiums, acquired by the same owners or
a related entity three years prior to the application, to receive an appropriate
rent adjustment where the DHCR finds (subject to the definitions and restrictions
stated in the regulations) that such an increase is necessary because the
annual operating expenses are not less than 95 percent of the gross rental
income. Instructions which accompany the forms referred to in this Fact Sheet
provide further details.
Alternative Hardship Procedures
I. Restrictions
The restrictions against applying for or receiving an alternative hardship
rent adjustment are listed below, with further explanations where appropriate.
- Maintenance of Services
While DHCR has broad discretionary authority with respect to alternative
hardship, the requirement of maintenance of services limits such discretion.
The regulations specifically bar an owner from applying for or collecting
further rent increases upon a determination by the DHCR that there is a failure
to maintain services. However, where the DHCR determines that insufficient
income is the cause of such failure to maintain required services, hardship
adjustments may be granted upon condition that such services will be restored
within a reasonable time, and certain tenant-caused violations may be excepted.
- Pending Tax Certiorari Proceedings or Objections
The regulations require the resolution of legal objections to real estate
taxes and water and sewer charges for the test year.
- Ownership by the Same or Related Entity for 36 Months
The regulations require that the owner or an entity related to the owner
must have acquired the building at least 36 months prior to the date of the
application in order for an owner to be eligible for an alternative hardship
adjustment. For the purpose of eligibility to file an application for an
alternative hardship rent adjustment, a cooperative corporation or the Board
of Managers of a condominium will not be considered the owner of the building.
Individual shareholders or unit owners will also not be considered building
owners for this purpose.
- Five (5) Percent Equity in the Property
An owner's equity must exceed five (5) percent of the sum of:
- the arm's length purchase price of the property; and
- the cost of any capital improvements for which the owner has not collected
a rent adjustment; and
- any repayment of principal of any mortgage or loan used to finance
the purchase of the property or used to finance any capital improvements
for which the owner has not obtained an adjustment in rent; and
- any increase in the equalized assessed value of the property which
occurred subsequent to the first valuation of the property after purchase
by the owner.
Owners will generally satisfy this requirement and avoid the more complex
calculations required, if the arm's length purchase price of their property,
less the unrepaid principal of any loan or mortgage used to finance the
purchase of the property, exceeds five (5) percent of the arm's length
purchase price.
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The Grant of a Previous Hardship Rent Adjustment
The regulations have the effect of prohibiting the filing or granting of
an application where any hardship rent adjustment that previously had been
granted became effective less than 36 months prior to the filing date of
the new application, or if a six (6) percent rent adjustment is still in
effect based on a prior hardship application.
II. Mortgage
Interest as an Includable Expense and its Impact on Processing
The alternative
hardship, unlike the two comparative hardship formulas, allows for the
inclusion of interest on a "bona fide" mortgage as an allowable
expense in computing the appropriate rent adjustment. Even where the mortgage
is bona fide, the DHCR on its own initiative, where warranted, or in the
face of a meaningful tenant objection, will also ascertain whether the claimed
mortgage interest expense is reasonable, actual, applicable to the operation
and maintenance of property, reasonably allocable to the test year and in
keeping with the general legislative purposes and intent
Because mortgage interest, as an allowable expense, is a feature belonging
solely to a particular hardship application, adjudication of mortgage interest
expense issues can only be further defined on a case by case basis.
Issuance and Effective Date of the Order
The DHCR will, after taking all necessary and appropriate action, issue
a determination either dismissing the application if it fails to substantially
comply with the provisions ofthe Regulations, or granting the application,
in whole or in part.
In the event the application is granted, the collection of any rent adjustment
exceeding six (6) percent of the legal regulated rent in effect on the filing
of the application shall be spread forward in similar increments and added
to the legal regulated rent as established or set in future years. In buildings
containing residential apartment units subject to Rent Control or otherwise
exempt from regulation, adjustments for both income and expenses will be
made to calculate the appropriate share for those apartments subject to the
application
In New York City, the legal regulated rent may be adjusted effective the
first rent payment date occurring 30 days after the filing of the application,
unless otherwise set forth in the order.
The effective date of rent adjustments for buildings located outside of
New York City is the date of issuance of the order, unless otherwise set
forth in the order. Rent adjustments will be expressed on a percentage basis.
For
more information or assistance, call the DHCR Rent InfoLine (718-739-6400)
or visit your Borough or County Rent Office.
DHCR
Version 12/16/04
RGB page updated 8/11/08
