N.Y. tenant-friendly ‘good cause’ eviction legislation has strong support as advocates push Albany for passage

ALBANY — Housing advocates are touting some “good” news as they push state lawmakers to embrace a tenant-friendly measure before the end of the legislative session.

A new poll released by Data for Progress on Monday found widespread support across the state for a “good cause” eviction bill that would protect tenants against unjust evictions or rent increases.

The survey found the legislation is popular not just in the five boroughs, where the bulk of the state’s renters live, but across all regions of New York.

On Long Island, 61% of those polled said they support the bill. And 70% of people in the Finger Lakes area and 64% of those in Central New York agree, according to the poll.

“ ‘Good cause’ eviction is so popular because it’s common sense,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx). “New Yorkers step up for each other in times of need, and as New Yorkers face extreme rent hikes and a tsunami of evictions, we are in great need.”

Protesters hold placards and shout slogans during a march calling for an extension to the eviction moratorium on January 14, 2022 in New York, New York. (ED JONES/)

The bill, first introduced in 2019, would give renters the right to a lease renewal in most cases and caps rent increases on existing tenants.

Landlords would mostly be barred from “unreasonable” rent increases, defined as exceeding 3% or1.5 times the Consumer Price Index for a region.

Landlords would also mostly be prevented from removing a renter without an order from a judge, even if their lease has expired or they never had a lease, and must have “good cause” for seeking an eviction. If a tenant breaks a lease, damages property or otherwise causes an issue they can still be evicted.

The push comes with only two weeks left in the legislative session and at a time when New Yorkers are deeply concerned about the rising cost of rent.

The Data for Progress poll found that overall 75% of voters are “very or somewhat concerned” about rising rents. That number swells to 82% in the city.

Dorca Reynoso, a tenant organizer with the Metropolitan Council on Housing who lives in Inwood, said the passage of the bill could be a matter of “life or death.”

People march towards the New York City office of Gov. Kathy Hochul calling for a stop to evictions on August 31, 2021 in New York City. (Michael M Santiago/GettyImages/)

“Last year, my landlord raised my rent over 100%,” she said. “If we don’t win this bill, I don’t know where I will go. I’m a mother and a grandmother. I need this apartment to care for my family. We need ‘good cause’ yesterday.”

Last week, dozens of advocates were arrested at the state Capitol during a massive rally in support of “good cause.”

Opponents of the measure argue it will lead to higher rents and property taxes while also stymieing the creation of affordable housing,

“This poll reflects what the tenant lobbyists and socialists in the state Legislature want New Yorkers to believe,” said Ross Wallenstein, a spokesman for the pro-landlord group Homeowners for an Affordable New York. “In reality, there is very, very little support for this bill among legislators — and with good reason.”

Wallenstein added that the bill as is “would destroy the rights of property owners and it would not do anything to help anyone currently facing eviction.”

Judith Goldiner, attorney in charge of the civil law reform unit at the Legal Aid Society, helped author the bill and said it could help keep thousands in their homes.

“Our clients and all tenants in unregulated housing need protection from excessive rent increases and evictions for no reason this minute,” Goldiner said. “Albany has until the end of session next week to enact this critical, commonsense and budget-neutral legislation, which the majority of New Yorkers support and want to see become law.”