Minimum rent hikes illegal, court rules

The Rent Guidelines Board acted illegally in imposing minimum rent hikes on rent-stabilized apartments in 2008 and 2009, an appeals court ruled yesterday. The ruling means the 300,000 affected New York City tenants could see a combined $100 million in refunds, the Daily News reported. “The creation of this ‘poor tax’ was a direct attack by the Rent Guidelines Board on low-income tenants,” said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The city’s Law Department is planning to ask for a review of yesterday’s ruling by the state’s Highest Court, but meanwhile, the Rent Guidelines Board is slated to set new rent increases tomorrow. [NYDN]

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