Good Cause Eviction Looks Hopeful in Village of New Paltz

NEW PALTZ, NY — (Story Originally Published on Oct. 7 2024)

“I’m personally very easily supportive of us moving forward with this version of Good Cause,” said Village Mayor Tim Rodgers at the most recent Village of New Paltz Board of Trustees meeting on Sep. 25 2024.  

Good Cause Eviction (GCE) is a New York State law that went into effect on Apr. 20 2024. The law adds further regulations to what is required by a landlord to end a tenancy, preventing them from doing so without “good cause.” The bill also allows renters to challenge rent increases that are above 5% plus inflation, with a maximum of 10% total. GCE is already NYS law, but it requires local municipalities to “opt-in” to the regulations and to set their own standards on various aspects of the law, specifically, on what housing is exempt from the regulations.  

Exemptions are available to “small landlords” and high rent housing. Each municipality can set its own definitions for these terms. In Kingston, small landlords were defined as landlords owning 1 unit or less, and high rent housing was defined as rent of over 300% of Fair Market Rent. While these definitions vary by municipality, the village looks to adopt similar standards. 

Kingston is not the only municipality to have already passed GCE. Other cities such as Albany, Hudson, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie have also passed these laws. 

 Multiple activists from the non-profit political advocacy group, For The Many, attended the meeting to support the passing of the bill. One advocate provided public comment: “We need Good Cause Eviction to address the housing crisis in the Village of New Paltz, to give tenants protections against unfair evictions and predatory rent increases.”  The activist cited the recent closing of New Paltz restaurant and bar Huckleberry due to a stark rent increase, as being indicative of the problem facing all Village of New Paltz residents.  

While Rodgers seemed supportive of the bill, he did not believe that it would help the affordability crisis in New Paltz. “I think the jury’s out as to whether it will impact affordability,” he said. “I think the greatest benefit will just be to set guidelines that tenants and landlords will be able to use.” He urged the activists to attend Village of New Paltz Planning Board Meetings and to rally the community for support of large-scale housing projects. “We know that adding supply will potentially impact affordability, probably more than this new law.” 

The next Village of New Paltz Board of Trustees meeting will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. A vote on GCE is expected.