Rent Transparency Act and Open Igloo aim to give NYC renters clearer data on stabilized units
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Summary
Open Igloo’s CEO Alia Mohammed described how the platform combines city data and anonymous renter feedback to help renters identify rent‑stabilized units and vet landlords; the segment reviewed the Rent Transparency Act's notice requirement and said Open Igloo has labeled nearly 1,000,000 stabilized apartments.
Alia Mohammed, CEO and cofounder of Open Igloo, told BronxNet that the platform aggregates city data and anonymous renter reviews so prospective tenants can assess landlords, building histories, violations and whether units are rent stabilized.
Mohammed explained the Rent Transparency Act, which requires landlords to post notices in common areas when a building contains rent‑stabilized units. "It's meant to alert renters... that you might actually live in a rent stabilized apartment," she said, adding that many renters do not realize their units are stabilized and therefore miss protections such as annual renewal rights and limits on rent increases determined by the Rent Guidelines Board.
Mohammed said Open Igloo has indexed addresses and labeled units that are in stabilized buildings to help renters filter searches. She noted the scale of stabilization: "there are nearly 1,000,000 rent stabilized apartments in New York City," and advised that stabilized units commonly exist in pre‑1974 buildings with six or more units, though some newer buildings contain stabilized units as well.
The segment emphasized practical tips for renters: search early, be patient, consider neighborhood and building types, and use tools such as Open Igloo and the posted common‑area notice to verify stabilization status. The interview did not include independent verification of the platform’s labeling processes or of enforcement outcomes under the Rent Transparency Act.
