Rent control apartments operate under the Maximum Base Rent System in New York City. This form of rent control applies to residential buildings constructed before February 1, 1947. The post-war rental housing crisis has never received a proper solution, and several municipalities have kept rent control in effect. These include New York City, Nassau, and Westchester counties. 

Lawmakers harnessed powers to broker changes to rent laws to protect tenants in the country’s most expensive housing market state. Tenants are not forced to sign renewal leases under the rent control law, as these tenancies are statutory. Increases to rent are limited, and services and evictions are regulated. Lawmakers agreed upon these specific regulations hoping to expand beyond New York City to the entire state, enabling other municipalities to set their own rules to keep apartments affordable. 

While this is beneficial to residents within New York, it limits the ability of landlords and building owners to charge a market value price for their housing. 

The question for debate is, should rent control be implemented in New York State?