State Lawmakers Propose “Good Cause” Eviction Bill

With the eviction moratorium expiring this month, lawmakers are pushing a “Good Cause” Bill, which would limit the ability of landlords to control rental rates for their properties. Bloomberg shared some details of the bill, including a quote from Kucker Marino Winiarsky & Bittens partner Craig Gambardella.

Along with tenant advocates, lawmakers claim that the end of the eviction moratorium will allow landlords to raise rents on tenants who signed cheaper leases during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

This “Good Cause” Eviction Bill would put a cap on rent increases and also prevent landlords from evicting paying tenants. In essence, it would block no-cause evictions, which occur when a landlord chooses not to renew a current tenant’s lease. Rather, evictions can occur due only to cause, such as nonpayment of rent or criminal activity. Additionally, the bill sets a 3% limit on rent increases, or 150% of the annual increase in inflation, whichever is higher. Landlords will have the opportunity to argue their case for a greater increase in court, however.

According to Craig Gambardella, partner at Kucker Marino Winiarsky & Bittens, this bill is not what it seems.

“Good cause eviction is simply universal rent control disguised with a misleading title,” Gambardella said. “Moreover, as written, the bill effectively opens the floodgates to extensive and expensive litigation with respect to every rent increase listed in every lease statewide.”

KMWB endeavors to continue to be at the forefront of these fraught and challenging issues of rent regulation and fighting on behalf of the New York real estate community. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Craig Gambardella at 212-869-5030.