Some New Yorkers say they’re struggling to stay in their apartments amidst the rising cost of rent. They’re telling lawmakers in Albany to pass additional pro-tenant legislation called “Good Cause Eviction,” which would ensure landlords have a good reason to raise rents or evict someone.

“We are losing people because they can’t afford to live here,” said Brooklyn Assemblymember Joanne Simon.

What You Need To Know

  • New Yorkers struggling to pay rent are telling lawmakers to pass pro-tenant legislation called “Good Cause Eviction,” which would ensure landlords have a good reason to raise rents or evict someone
  • The city’s vacancy rate is at the lowest it’s been since the 1960s
  • State Sen. Julia Salazar  is leading the charge for “Good Cause Eviction,” saying people shouldn't have to live in fear of having their rent hiked or being evicted
  • Lawmakers have until June to come to a final agreement, before the end of the legislative session

The clock is ticking. With all 213 members of the state legislature launching into reelection campaign mode, the high price of housing is top of mind.

“We need to protect renters all over the state and we need to do it now,” State Sen. Julia Salazar said.

Salazar is leading the charge for “Good Cause Eviction,” and made the case in Brooklyn Thursday.

“There are far too many tenants in unregulated housing who live in fear daily, annually, that they will receive an enormous rent increase or that their lease will not be renewed for no reason at all,” Salazar said.

She said now is the time to act, with new housing development on the decline. 

The city’s vacancy rate is at the lowest it’s been since the 1960s.

“Here’s the thing, it doesn’t help the housing crisis for us to evict people, [especially] paying tenants, who have been paying their rent regularly, [but it’s] because someone buys a building and decides they can get twice as much,” Simon said.

The measure would make it tougher for landlords to justify steep rent hikes, requiring a judge to step in should the annual rate jump by at least 3%. It also raises the bar for evictions.

“The owner does not need to throw out half of the tenants and bring people in who make five times as much money. The only reason would be to make a very wealthy person, even wealthier,” City Comptroller Brad Lander said.

“Good Cause Eviction” legislation has faced challenges, like failing to gain consensus in the legislature.

Critics argue that the policy severely restricts landlords’ control over their properties. It was struck down in court after local versions passed in Albany, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie.

But advocates cite a new report showing tenants living in market rate apartments who don’t get government subsidies saw rent hikes of over 50%.

Now, political opponents like Gov. Kathy Hochul recognize if they want new developer subsidies on the books, there’s no housing deal without added tenant protections.

“We need to do it urgently. I believe it’s going to be done in the context of a larger housing deal which will definitely include incentives to build more housing, but it’s so important that good cause is in there to protect people who live here right now,” Salazar said.

Lawmakers have until June to come to a final agreement, before the end of the legislative session.