New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board recently took a preliminary vote to place a rent freeze on one-year leases. Two year leases are frozen for the first year and can only be raised by 1% in the second year, as reported by Curbed.

The vote comes after widespread pressure from advocates and elected officials – including Mayor Bill de Blasio – mounts in the wake of the severe financial challenges wrought by the COVID-19 outbreak, as many New Yorkers throughout the city have lost their jobs and income for the foreseeable future.

“A rent freeze is the only appropriate action to mitigate the impact of this unprecedented crisis for tenants across the city,” said Adriene Holder, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Practice at the Legal Aid Society and former RGB tenant member.