Brownstones and small buildings all across Brooklyn are being classified as Rent Stabilized! For the past few years, the judges at Kings County Housing Court have repeatedly held that when a landlord takes a building and either legally, or illegally creates an additional unit so that the building contains 6 or more units, it is a "De Facto Rent-Stabilized Premises." This means that all of the tenants within that building have the right to a renewal lease every year or two years and that they are protected from astronomical rent increases that non-regulated tenants routinely face. 

The most recent decision was issued by Judge Kimberly Slade of Kings County Housing Court. In a case called Cummins v. Griffith, Index No. 87080/16, Judge Slade found in favor of a tenant where a landlord rented at least 6 rooms to individual tenants in a legal four family house. The judge further found that despite that the tenants did not have leases, the landlord admitted to accepting rent from each tenant individually and each tenant had separate rooms and exclusive access to their rooms. What a win for NYC tenants!