Good Cause Eviction in NYC, Explained
Since 2024, many New York City renters who aren't rent-stabilized have gained a new protection: a landlord generally can't decline to renew your lease, or raise your rent to an unreasonable level, without a legally recognized reason. This guide covers the basics — the specifics are genuinely complex, so confirm your building's coverage and the current rules against HCR's guidance or a tenant attorney before relying on them.
What "Good Cause Eviction" actually changes
Before this law, a market-rate lease in a private building could typically be non-renewed for any reason (or no reason) once the term ended, and rent increases at renewal were largely unrestricted. Good Cause Eviction changes that default for covered units: a landlord must have a legally recognized "good cause" — like nonpayment, lease violations, or wanting the unit for personal use in limited circumstances — to decline renewal, and a rent increase above a certain threshold is presumed unreasonable unless the landlord can justify it.
Who's covered — and who's exempt
Coverage isn't universal. Rent-stabilized apartments already have their own (generally stronger) protections and aren't governed by this law. Common exemptions from Good Cause Eviction include, among others: owner-occupied buildings with a small number of units, certain smaller landlords, subsidized/affordable housing already covered by other regulatory programs, and newer construction within a defined window. Because exemptions are specific and technical, don't assume either way — check your building's actual status.
What counts as a rent increase that's "presumptively unreasonable"
The law ties the threshold to a formula based on the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI) — generally the lesser of a set percentage or CPI plus a set percentage. Because this figure moves with inflation and is set locally, confirm the current threshold against HCR's official guidance rather than relying on last year's number.
What a landlord still can do
Good Cause Eviction doesn't freeze rents or guarantee a tenant can stay forever — it requires a legitimate, stated reason. Landlords can still decline to renew for things like the tenant's nonpayment, a genuine lease violation, or in some cases the owner wanting the unit for themselves or immediate family, subject to the law's specific procedures and notice requirements.
What to do if you think you're covered
- Confirm your building's coverage status — building age, size, and ownership structure all matter.
- If you receive a non-renewal notice or a large rent increase, ask in writing for the landlord's stated reason.
- Keep your lease, all notices, and payment records — they matter if you need to raise Good Cause Eviction as a defense.
- Get help early: Housing Court Answers and legal aid organizations can help confirm whether your specific unit is covered before you make a decision based on assumptions.