Good Cause Eviction

Good Cause Eviction is a New York State law that only applies in localities that have opted in to the protection. That means your village, town, or city must pass a local law adopting Good Cause before you are covered.

What Good Cause Eviction Does

Good Cause Eviction provides two key protections:

  1. Limits your landlord’s ability to evict you without a valid reason
  2. Caps the amount your landlord can raise your rent within a given year

Where Good Cause Eviction Applies (as of April 23, 2025)

New York City (Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island), City of Albany, City of Beacon, City of Binghamton, City of Ithaca, City of Kingston, City of Poughkeepsie, City of Rochester, City of Hudson, City of Newburgh, Town of Poughkeepsie, Village of Catskill, Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Village of Fishkill, Village of New Paltz, Village of Nyack

1. Lease Renewal Rights – Limited Eviction Grounds

Tenants in good standing have the right to automatic lease renewals. A landlord cannot refuse to renew a lease without one of the following legal reasons:

  • You owe rent
  • You violated the lease
  • You are creating a nuisance
  • You are using the property for illegal activity
  • You are unreasonably denying the landlord access to the unit
  • The landlord or their family needs to move into the unit
  • The landlord plans to demolish the property
  • The landlord plans to remove the unit from the rental market
  • You refuse to accept reasonable changes to the lease

2. Limits on Rent Increases

Under Good Cause Eviction, landlords cannot impose unreasonable rent increases.

Rent increases are capped at:
5% + the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 10%, whichever is less.

Example – Albany CPI (as of April 23, 2025): 3.38%

  • Maximum increase allowed: 5% + 3.38% = 8.38%

All eviction claims must go through court. A judge must determine if the landlord’s reason is valid.

Rent Increase Examples

Example A

  • Current Rent: $1,000/month
  • CPI: 3.38%
  • Maximum legal increase: $1,083.80
    (8.38% of $1,000 = $83.80)

Example B

  • Current Rent: $1,000/month
  • CPI: 8% (hypothetical future date)
  • Capped Increase: 10% → $1,100/month
    (Even though 5% + 8% = 13%, the increase is capped at 10%)

Example C

  • Current Rent: $1,000/month
  • CPI: 3.38%
  • Landlord demands: $1,150 (15% increase)
  • Context: Landlord renovated the bathroom and added new appliances
    → This may justify a higher increase, but it must be proven in court. You have the right to challenge it.

Carve Outs for Landlords

Importantly, there are many carve-outs for landlords. Below is a chart to simplify the protection:

What to Do if Your Rent Increase Seems Unreasonable

If your landlord raises your rent beyond the legal limits—or refuses to renew your lease without a valid reason—you may be protected under Good Cause Eviction. Contact United Tenants of Albany immediately to get support.