NYC Good Cause Eviction Law

The Good Cause Eviction Law, signed into law as part of New York's 2024 budget, provides new protections for hundreds of thousands of market-rate tenants across NYC.

Effective: April 20, 2024

What Does the Law Do?

The Good Cause Eviction Law provides two key protections for eligible tenants:

1
Eviction Protection: Landlords can only evict for specific "good cause" reasons — not simply because a lease expired or a tenant declined a large rent increase.
2
Rent Increase Cap: A rent increase is presumptively unreasonable if it exceeds the "local rent standard" — currently 8.2% in NYC.

The Rent Increase Formula

Local Rent Standard
min(5% + CPI, 10%)
5.0%
Base
3.2%
NYC CPI
8.2%
Current Max

CPI source: BLS CPI-U, New York-Newark-Jersey City, 12-month change ending Feb 2026. The total is capped at 10% regardless of CPI.

Am I Eligible?

Your apartment is covered by Good Cause unless one of these exemptions applies:

Building built after 2009

Buildings with a certificate of occupancy less than 30 years old are exempt.

Small landlord (10 or fewer units)

Landlords who own 10 or fewer rental units total in New York State are exempt.

Owner-occupied building with 10 or fewer units

If the landlord lives in the building and it has 10 or fewer units.

Rent above 245% of Fair Market Rent

Current FMR thresholds (245%): Studio $5,846 | 1BR $6,005 | 2BR $6,742 | 3BR $8,413

Already regulated

Rent-stabilized, subsidized, public housing, co-ops, and condos are not covered (they have their own protections).

What To Do if Your Increase Exceeds the Standard

1
Document everything — Keep copies of your lease, the rent increase notice, and any communications.
2
Send a written objection — Use our calculator to generate a letter citing the Good Cause law and the specific overcharge amount.
3
Contact legal help — Organizations like the Legal Aid Society, Met Council on Housing, and Housing Court Answers can help.
4
Raise it in court — If your landlord starts eviction proceedings, the unreasonable rent increase is a defense under the Good Cause law.

Check if your increase is unreasonable

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