Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to announce on Tuesday that some distressed landlords will be exempt from his proposed rent freeze, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The report said eligible owners of certain rent-stabilized apartments would be allowed to impose a one-time rent increase on vacant units, even if a broader rent freeze is approved later this year.

The increases would reportedly be decided on a case-by-case basis and could amount to hundreds of dollars per month for some units.

Don’t Miss:

The exemption would apply to landlords of certain city-financed and city-regulated affordable housing units, many of whom have argued that rising costs and debt burdens have made the proposed rent freeze financially difficult.

“The reality is, they will all remain affordable,” Dina Levy, commissioner of the city’s Housing Preservation and Development Department, told The Wall Street Journal.

The report said roughly 300,000 apartments financed through city housing agencies could potentially qualify for the program.

Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.

Housing Push

The broader plan also includes easier access to financing for property improvements, tax exemptions, housing-code compliance support and a proposed $5 million loan program aimed at helping landlords recover unpaid rent and avoid evictions.

See Also: Think you’re saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why

Mamdani campaigned heavily on affordability and previously pledged to freeze rents on roughly one million rent-regulated apartments across New York City.

That proposal has drawn criticism from some landlords and investors, who argue that rising insurance, utility and financing costs are already pressuring building owners.

Earlier this month, billionaire investor Ken Griffin criticized Mamdani’s broader tax policies and warned New York was becoming less welcoming to businesses and wealthy investors.

Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos also recently pushed back against Mamdani’s tax agenda, arguing that increasing taxes on billionaires would not solve the city’s affordability challenges.

In February, Mamdani proposed a possible 9.5% property tax increase as a “last resort” option to help close New York City’s budget gap if broader wealth-tax efforts stalled.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next: 

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Rad AI

RAD Intel is an AI-driven marketing platform helping brands improve campaign performance by turning complex data into actionable insights for content, influencer strategy, and ROI optimization. Positioned within the multi-hundred-billion-dollar digital marketing industry, the company works with global brands across sectors to improve targeting precision and creative performance using its analytics and AI tools. With strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise contracts, and a Nasdaq ticker reserved under $RADI, RAD Intel is opening access to its Regulation A+ offering, giving investors exposure to the growing intersection of AI, marketing, and creator economy infrastructure.

Immersed

Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments. Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.

Connect Invest

Connect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans. Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets—helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Lightstone

Lightstone DIRECT gives accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily real estate opportunities backed by a vertically integrated operator with more than $12 billion in assets under management and a 40-year track record. With more than 25,000 multifamily units nationwide — including significant exposure to low-supply Midwest markets where rent growth has remained resilient — Lightstone is positioning investors to benefit from tightening housing supply, strong occupancy trends, and long-term rental demand. Through Lightstone DIRECT, individuals can co-invest alongside the firm, which commits at least 20% to each deal, offering exposure to professionally managed multifamily assets designed to generate durable income and long-term appreciation beyond the traditional stock market.

AdviserMatch

AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.

Accredited Debt Relief

Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions. Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.

Finance Advisors

Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.