Daniel Phillips, a partner at Belkin, Burden and Goldman, LLP, was recently quoted in an article by Fox News discussing New York’s new Good Cause Eviction Law, which came into effect in April 2024. This legislation has made it significantly harder for landlords to evict tenants without demonstrating valid reasons, known as “good cause.”
The law primarily affects free market tenants, as opposed to those regulated by rent-stabilization or rent-control policies. Under the new rules, landlords must prove “good cause,” such as non-payment of rent or the tenant being a nuisance, before they can proceed with eviction.
Phillips explains that while this law offers stronger protections for tenants, it also makes it more challenging for landlords to address problematic tenants, even if they cause issues or fail to meet rental obligations. In many cases, landlords may struggle to remove tenants unless they meet specific exemptions or grounds for eviction.
Additionally, the law includes a cap on annual rent increases, currently set at 8.82%, further limiting landlord control over rental properties. This law draws parallels to the protections squatters receive, complicating landlords’ ability to manage their properties.
Read the full article on Fox News here.