State Senate to Hold Hearing on “Good Cause” Eviction Legislation
LeadingAge NY will submit written testimony to the State Senate Standing Committees on Judiciary and Housing, Construction, and Community Development opposing the “good cause” eviction proposal (S.3082/A.5573) in relation to a joint hearing scheduled for Fri., Jan. 7th in Hearing Room A of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.
Introduced by Senator Julia Salazar of Brooklyn and Assemblymember Pamela Hunter of Syracuse, the legislation would limit the ability of residential property owners to evict or deny a lease renewal to a tenant without good cause as demonstrated to the court.
The bill would further provide that nonpayment due to an “unconscionable” rent increase – or an increase in one year of more than 3 percent or 150 percent the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index – does not constitute good cause.
Exceptions would be made in the state legislation for owner-occupied buildings of up to three units, as well as for units already subject to rent regulation or another law requiring “good cause” for eviction or non-renewal of tenancy.
The cities of Albany, Hudson, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie passed similar local measures in 2021.
The state’s current eviction moratoria are set to expire on Sat., Jan. 15th. State legislators will return to Albany on Wed., Jan. 5th, when Governor Kathy Hochul is scheduled to give her 2022 State of the State Address in the Assembly Chamber.
LeadingAge NY will continue to monitor and keep members up to date on the development and advancement of eviction-related proposals at the state and local levels.
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835