Media Mentions
Benesch Partner Paul Kremer Quoted in amNewYork on NYC Rent Freeze Challenge
September 11, 2026
Benesch Litigation Partner Paul Kremer was quoted in an amNewYork article titled, “NYC landlords likely to lose challenge of rent freeze, legal experts say – but a win could throw rent-stabilized leases into chaos.”
The article discusses a legal challenge brought by landlords seeking to overturn New York City’s rent freeze for nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments. Legal experts interviewed for the story largely believe the landlords face an uphill battle due to the high legal standard required to overturn an administrative agency’s decision. The article also examines the uncertainty and potential disruption that could arise for tenants, landlords and existing leases if the court were to strike down the rent freeze.
Paul explains that while the case could ultimately go either way, the city is more likely to prevail because courts generally defer to administrative agencies when there is a rational basis for their decisions. He also notes that if the court vacates the Rent Guidelines Board’s decision and sends the matter back for reconsideration, it could create significant uncertainty regarding rent increases during the interim period before a new determination is issued.