The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs, administered by the New York City Department of Finance, are two very important programs allowing disabled and senior tenants to maintain affordable housing in New York. These programs allow tenants aged 62 and over and tenants with disabilities to “freeze” their rent if they live in a rent regulated apartment by providing landlords with a tax abatement that accounts for the difference between the frozen rent and the legal regulated rent for the apartment.
In order to better support our clients, and their advocates, VOLS has updated our Guide to SCRIE. We want to ensure that our clients and their advocates have a trusted resource to help them understand the eligibility requirements for the program and give them the tools needed to continue to receive these important benefits for as long as they qualify.
This new version of our SCRIE guide includes updates to reflect changes made to the New York State rent laws after the passage of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act and also now includes links to all of the forms needed to apply for and maintain SCRIE benefits.
We hope that you will download the guide and keep it handy if you or someone you are advocating for is a SCRIE recipient. If you or someone you know needs legal assistance or advice about their SCRIE benefits, please do not hesitate to contact us. VOLS continues to stand beside vulnerable seniors during these dangerous times.