Good Cause Eviction in NYC – Plain-Language Guide

Good Cause Eviction is a law that limits when a landlord may refuse to renew a lease or remove a tenant, even when the written lease has expired. In many situations, a landlord must have a legally recognized "good cause" to end the tenancy or significantly raise the rent.

The details can be complicated and may depend on:

• The type of building
• The number of units
• The tenant's income
• The amount of rent increase
• Whether any exemptions apply

Because these rules can change and may be interpreted differently over time, you should consult an attorney or trusted legal resource for the most current legal guidance.

Not all tenants in New York are covered by Good Cause Eviction protections. Coverage can depend on many factors, such as:

• The size and age of the building
• Whether the unit is already rent-regulated
• The owner's situation
• The amount and timing of any rent increases

If you are unsure whether you are covered, you may want to:

• Check reliable legal resources or tenant-rights organizations
• Ask a legal aid office or housing attorney
• Review any written notices you receive from your landlord carefully

Good Cause Eviction may come up in NYC Housing Court in several ways. For example:

• A tenant may argue that a landlord did not have "good cause" to refuse to renew a lease.
• A tenant may claim that a rent increase is unreasonable under the law.
• A landlord may need to show that a specific legal reason exists to remove a tenant, even if the lease has ended.

In Housing Court, these issues can appear in:

• Holdover petitions
• Answers and defenses filed by tenants
• Motions or written requests submitted to the judge

Tenants and landlords may both need to prepare clear, complete documents to explain their positions to the court.

Depending on your situation, the following types of documents may be involved in a case where Good Cause Eviction is an issue:

• Notices from the landlord about lease non-renewal or large rent increases
• Holdover petitions or other Housing Court filings
• Tenant Answers raising Good Cause Eviction defenses
• Affidavits or written statements supporting either side's position

We can help with document preparation by organizing the facts you provide into clear, readable papers. We do not tell you what legal arguments to make, but we help you present your information in a format the court is more likely to understand.

We assist both NYC tenants and small landlords who need help preparing paperwork for Housing Court, including cases where Good Cause Eviction may be part of the dispute.

Our role is limited to document preparation:

• We help you understand which information usually needs to go into each type of document.
• We draft petitions, Answers, and supporting documents based on the facts you provide.
• You review all drafts to confirm accuracy.
• You remain responsible for your legal strategy and decisions.

For any questions about your legal rights or how the law applies to your facts, you should speak with a lawyer or legal aid organization.

• A tenant receives a non-renewal notice after years in the same unit, even though they have paid rent on time.
• A landlord seeks a large rent increase in a short period of time.
• A tenant is told to move out at the end of the lease without being given a specific legal reason.

In each case, Good Cause Eviction might or might not apply, depending on the building, the type of tenancy, and the law at the time. Court documents in these situations must be carefully prepared to explain the facts clearly.