What is it: Good Cause Eviction is a New York State law that took effect April 20, 2024. It protects many market-rate (unregulated) NYC tenants from eviction without a valid reason, and caps rent increases that can be considered “unreasonable.” It does not apply to rent-stabilized tenants, who already have stronger protections.
Good Cause Eviction: The Law That Changed the Rules for Market-Rate Renters
Before April 2024, if you lived in a market-rate apartment, your landlord could decline to renew your lease at the end of the term for any reason — or no reason at all. Good Cause Eviction changed that. Now, in covered apartments, a landlord must have a legally recognized reason to end your tenancy.
This matters most when your lease is up. Under Good Cause, a landlord can’t simply refuse to renew because they want to renovate, found a tenant who’ll pay more, or just decided they want you out. They need cause.
Does Good Cause Apply to Your Apartment?
You’re likely covered if all of the following are true:
- Your apartment is not rent stabilized or rent controlled (those have their own protections)
- Your building was built before 2009
- Your rent is below approximately $6,004/month for a one-bedroom (245% of Fair Market Rent — the threshold updates annually)
- Your landlord owns more than 10 units total in New York State
- You do not live in a condo, co-op, NYCHA development, or subsidized housing
- Your apartment is not provided as part of your employment
The small landlord exemption is important and often misunderstood. If your landlord owns 10 or fewer units statewide — including through LLCs — they may be exempt. But if they claim this exemption, they must provide you with a written list of every property they own. If they can’t or won’t provide it, they lose the exemption. You can use justfix.org to look up who’s behind a corporate owner.
What “Good Cause” Actually Means
If you’re covered, your landlord can only end your tenancy for specific reasons, including:
- You didn’t pay rent (though you can challenge this if the nonpayment was due to an unreasonable rent increase)
- You violated a substantial term of your lease and didn’t fix it within 10 days of notice
- You committed or permitted a nuisance
- The landlord genuinely wants the apartment for their own primary residence or a close family member’s
- The landlord plans to demolish the building or remove it from the rental market
“My lease expired” is not good cause. “I found someone who’ll pay more” is not good cause. “I don’t like you” is not good cause.
Rent Increase Protections
Good Cause also limits what counts as a “reasonable” rent increase. Any increase above 10%, or above CPI + 5% (whichever is lower), is presumed unreasonable. As of early 2026, NYC’s inflation rate was 3.79%, making the current local rent standard approximately 8.79%.
This doesn’t automatically void the increase — landlords can justify higher increases in court by pointing to documented cost increases or repairs. But if your landlord raises your rent well above that threshold and then tries to evict you for non-payment, you can raise Good Cause as a defense in Housing Court.
What Your Landlord Must Tell You
Since August 2024, landlords must notify you in writing at the time of your first lease, at renewal, or when starting eviction proceedings whether your unit is covered by Good Cause — and if not, why. If your landlord claims a small landlord exemption in court, they must disclose the names of all owners behind any LLC and all properties they own statewide.
How to Use It
Good Cause is enforced through Housing Court — it’s a defense, not an automatic protection. If your landlord tries to evict you or refuses to renew your lease without good cause, you raise it as a defense when you respond to the court proceeding. This means having documentation matters: keep copies of rent payments, lease renewals, and any written communication from your landlord.
For free legal help, contact the Legal Aid Society (Manhattan: 212-426-3000 | Brooklyn: 718-722-3100 | Bronx: 718-991-4600 | Queens: 718-286-2450 | Staten Island: 347-422-5333) or call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Good Cause Eviction apply to rent-stabilized apartments?
No. Rent-stabilized tenants already have stronger protections. Good Cause is designed for market-rate tenants in unregulated apartments who previously had very few protections.
My landlord won’t renew my lease. Does Good Cause protect me?
If your apartment is covered, yes. Non-renewal without a legally recognized reason is not permitted. Raise Good Cause as a defense if they take you to Housing Court. Contact Legal Aid or call 311 for the Tenant Helpline.
My rent went up 20%. Is that allowed under Good Cause?
A 20% increase is above the presumptive “unreasonable” threshold (currently around 8.79% in NYC). If your landlord evicts you for non-payment after a large increase, you can challenge the increase as unreasonable in Housing Court. The landlord would need to justify it with documented costs or repairs.
What if my landlord owns their building through an LLC?
If they claim the small landlord exemption (10 or fewer units), they must provide you with the names of all owners of the LLC and all properties those individuals own statewide. If they won’t or can’t, they lose the exemption. Use justfix.org to research corporate building ownership.
Where do I get free legal help for a Good Cause situation?
Contact the Legal Aid Society (dial by borough above), call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline, or visit legalservicesnyc.org. If you’re in Housing Court, you have a right to free counsel if you’re low-income under NYC’s Right to Counsel law.
