Move to beef up stable-rent regs

LEGAL AID groups joined City Council Speaker Corey Johnson at City Hall on Thursday to push for stronger rent laws, asking state lawmakers to end loopholes that let landlords jack up the rent.

Rent stabilization and control laws govern the apartments where 2.5 million New Yorkers live, and are up for renewal in Albany next year.

Advocates want to get rid of a rule that lets landlords raise the rent for a stabilized apartment by 20% when tenants move out. They also want to get rid of a provision that allows large rent increases when tenants have previously been granted a “preferential rent” below the legal maximum.