What to know about Good Cause Eviction law before Common Council vote
The Common Council is expected to vote on the Good Cause Eviction law Monday to determine if the legislation will join other cities across New York, and go into effect for Syracuse. Zabdyl Koffa | Staff Photographer
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The Syracuse Common Council is set to vote on a reintroduced version of the Good Cause Eviction law this week, which would make it illegal for landlords to evict tenants without “good cause.”
Good Cause Eviction, signed into New York state law in April 2024 by Gov. Kathy Hochul, only applies to cities that have opted in to its protections.
If approved at the council’s regular Monday meeting, Syracuse will be one step closer to becoming one of several localities — including New York City, Albany, Ithaca and Rochester — to establish its own Good Cause Eviction Law.
The Daily Orange has broken down the proposed law amid the council’s pending decision.
What is Good Cause Eviction?
Good Cause Eviction aims to protect tenants from landlords who may evict them unfairly. If tenants believe they have been wrongfully evicted, and meet the criteria described in the law, Good Cause Eviction can be cited within housing court to support the tenant, according to NYC Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.
New York City’s law defined a “good cause” for eviction as:
- Tenants’ failure to pay rent, excluding “unreasonable” rent increase
- Tenant violations of housing agreements
- Refusal from a tenant to make repairs or show the property to a possible buyer
- Tenant allowing illegal activities taking place within the property
- Orders from a city or state agency to vacate
- Landlord plans to demolish the property or take it off the market
- Plans for either the landlord or their family to move into the property, as long as the tenant is younger than 65 years-old
However, Good Cause Eviction laws contain some exceptions to their protections. They do not protect subletters, those paying “high rent,” those with “small landlords” and people living in school residences.
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Good Cause Eviction’s history in Syracuse
First introduced to Syracuse in October 2024 by City Auditor Alexander Marion, the law would work to better protect renters, and if necessary, allow them to use the law in housing court.
After an initial plan for the Common Council to vote on the law last February, the vote was tabled. Now, about a year later, the council plans to vote on the law, which has special implications for Syracuse residents.
The law’s proposed Monday vote has been introduced by Councilors Hanah Ehrenreich, Chol Majok, Jimmy Monto, Marty Nave and Corey Williams, according to the Feb. 9 meeting agenda.
In addition to introducing Good Cause Eviction’s base regulations, the agenda states they will amend the sector of the law that excludes “small landlords” from being affected by the legislation. Though the original law defines a small landlord as any person who owns 10 or fewer properties, the vote will only distribute the small landlord title to those owning one property.
Marion is “thrilled” for the law’s reintroduction, he wrote in a Feb. 4 release. He cited a sentence from a report surrounding the impacts of Good Cause Eviction, claiming over 2,000 people in Syracuse who currently experience homelessness previously lived somewhere where an eviction lawsuit “was brought against them or the lease holder.”
“Evictions are fueling sustained poverty and homelessness in our community. Enacting Good Cause Eviction will directly support people on the brink of losing their housing,” Marion wrote. “More than 60% of Syracuse residents are renters and urgently need Good Cause to protect against excessive rent hikes and unfair evictions.”
Support and opposition for Good Cause Eviction
The law has the support of Councilors Ehrenreich, Majok, Monto, Nave, Williams, as well as President Rita Paniagua, Marion wrote in the release.
Mayor Sharon Owens, the city’s first mayor to voice support for the legislation, has publicly encouraged the council to “engage in conversation” around Good Cause Eviction during her State of the City Address.
“We need to ensure our existing rental stock is safe and remains affordable for our residents,” Owens said in the address.
The Syracuse Tenants Union also backs the law which says it “expand(s) tenant protections.”
A petition opposing the bill’s signing in Syracuse has gained over 130 signatures, claiming the law would “disrupt” the balance between tenant rights and property management and could lead to negative outcomes for both parties.
“We urge the local government and community stakeholders to reconsider the implementation of Good Cause Eviction in Syracuse,” the petition description reads. “It’s crucial to strike a balance that considers the needs of both tenants and landlords, fostering an environment where quality, affordable housing is accessible without inadvertently pressuring landlords into detrimental practices.”
Previous criticism of Good Cause Eviction also arose from former mayoral candidates Tim Rudd, Thomas Babilon and Alfonso Davis at an October debate hosted by Central Current. Several landlord groups throughout New York, including those in Western New York and in Schenectady, have also publicly condemned the legislation.
What’s next
For the bill to become law, it will need to be signed by Owens following approval by the Common Council.
The council is scheduled to vote on the bill Monday.
