Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams has made a high‑stakes move in the final weeks of his term by appointing and reappointing four members to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB)—a maneuver that could complicate incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s signature campaign promise to implement a multi‑year rent freeze for millions of tenants in rent‑stabilized apartments.
The nine‑member RGB, which annually sets allowable rent increases for roughly one million rent‑stabilized apartments, now has a majority of Adams appointees heading into 2026.
With five of the board’s nine seats held by officials selected by Adams, experts say the board may be more likely to approve modest rent increases based on housing cost data—a dynamic that could jeopardize Mamdani’s effort to freeze rent hikes.
Adams defended the late‑term appointments as part of his broader effort to address New York’s housing crisis, saying the new members bring “decades of experience” and will help guide responsible decisions for both tenants and property owners.
However, tenant advocates and housing justice groups have sharply criticized the move, arguing it undermines the will of voters who overwhelmingly supported Mamdani’s platform, which centered on rent relief and stronger tenant protections.
The Legal Aid Society warned that stacking the RGB could lead to further rent increases at a time when affordability is a serious challenge for many New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s transition team has insisted that the incoming administration remains committed to a four‑year rent freeze, and that additional tools and appointments will be pursued once he takes office on January 1, 2026.
However, under existing city rules, removing sitting RGB members before their terms expire would be difficult without cause, meaning the board’s current composition could delay or dilute Mamdani’s rent‑freeze plans during his initial year in office.
The clash highlights the broader policy divide in New York City politics over how to balance tenant protections with concerns from landlords and housing industry groups who argue that rent freezes could strain property finances and reduce investment in maintained housing stock.
As the transition unfolds, both sides are preparing for what could be a pivotal first RGB vote on rent adjustments in mid‑2026, a decision that will signal whether the new city leadership can overcome the foothold left by the Adams appointees.
