I been living in my private house apartment for 2 years as of Jan,2013 I pay $1000. The lease was for a year so now its expired. I get a letter in the mail stating that due to the prices going up in ny, the rent will be increased to $50 more a month. I didn't get a renewal lease, and I don't know how much of a percentage she can charge, being that I'm not rent stablized.Can you please help me?

ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

But $50 is 5%. That is a more than reasonable increase after 2 years. They don't need to renew your lease, They may prefer to keep you as a month to month tenant. However you can request a new lease to protect you, though it also obligates you.

State is NY.
NYC has a long, long list of special tenant protections, but this still doesn't violate any of them if you live in the city.

For NY, unless you are in a rent controlled or stabilized unit, which obviously you are not, then its whatever the market will bear.

Yes 50 dollars or 5 percent is really less than a normal increase over 2 years. Normally there would have been 5 to 10 after first year and another 5 or so this year.

But they are free to change you