NEW TENANT PROTECTIONS IN POUGHKEEPSIE

WE WON! Poughkeepsie now has rent stabilization and Good Cause eviction protections.

Read on to learn more about your rights.

Interested in organizing your building or just getting involved? Contact us here.

RENT STABILIZATION

What does rent stabilization do?

Rent stabilization protects tenants in eligible buildings from excessive rent increases, while ensuring that property owners receive a fair return on their investment.

Opting into rent stabilization means:

✔️ Protecting against evictions without a good reason

✔️ Guaranteeing lease renewals

✔️ Empowering renters to secure repairs

✔️ Limiting annual rent increases

Is my building eligible for rent stabilization?

Right now, rent stabilization applies to rents in buildings with 6 or more units built before 1974.

If your building is not eligible, see the section below on Good Cause eviction protections.

How does rent stabilization work?

Each year, a local Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) made up of tenants, property owners, and public representatives votes on the rate of allowed rent adjustment for eligible buildings (usually 1-3%).

Rent stabilization protects tenants from evictions without cause and guarantees the right to a lease renewal so long as they continue to pay rent and don’t violate terms of the lease.

What should I do if I'm in an eligible building?

Your rents are FROZEN at current levels until the Rent Guidelines Board votes.

DON'T sign any new lease or rental agreement, and contact us immediately if your landlord is trying to intimidate you.

GOOD CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTIONS

What does Good Cause do?

If you are eligible for Good Cause eviction protections, you will have a right to remain in your home as long as you pay rent and follow your lease.

Good Cause protections include:

✔️ Guaranteed lease renewals: Rest easy knowing your lease or month-to-month tenancy renewal is guaranteed.

✔️ Challenge large rent increases: Force landlords to justify rent hikes more than 10% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5%, whichever is lower (8.45% in Poughkeepsie as of May 2024).

✔️ Protection from unjustified evictions: Landlords can’t evict without a ‘Good Cause,’ like nonpayment of rent or lease violations.

Who is eligible for Good Cause eviction protections?

Tenants in the City of Poughkeepsie who:

Live in a building built before 2009
Pay less than 345% of Fair Market Rent ($4,900/month for a one bedroom)
Rent from a landlord who owns more than 1 rental units total
Do not live in an owner-occupied building with fewer than 11 units
Do not live in a co-op or condo
Do not rent their home as part of an employment agreement
Do not live in manufactured housing
Are not rent stabilized or living in subsidized or public housing (already have Good Cause)

If you’re facing a rent hike, unfair eviction, or non-renewal, chances are your neighbors are too. Talk to your neighbors and negotiate with your landlord together. When tenants work together, we have more power.

How can I use Good Cause to stay in my home?

If your landlord refuses to renew your lease, tells you that you have to leave for no reason, or tries to evict you for no reason, stay in your home!

Tell your landlord you have a right to stay unless your landlord has a "Good Cause" to evict you. If your landlord then tries to formally evict you in court, you can raise a Good Cause defense and require your landlord to demonstrate they have a “Good Cause” to evict you.

How can I use Good Cause to fight my rent hike?

Demand notice
1. Your landlord must give you written notice to raise your rent more than 5% (30 days notice if you’ve lived there less than 1 year, 60 days if you’ve lived there 1-2 years, and 90 days notice if you’ve lived there longer than 2 years). If your landlord tries to raise rent without proper notice, inform them they are violating Real Property Law L Section 226-C. Do not pay any rent increase until they give written notice.
Tell them it's unreasonable
1. If your rent increase is more than 10% (or CPI+5%, whichever is lower), tell your landlord it is an unreasonable increase and that a judge could force your landlord to justify it based on increased costs.
Withhold the unreasonable increase
1. You can withhold the rent increase above the ‘reasonable’ threshold. Pay your old rent plus CPI+5% or 10%, whichever is lower. To be safe, set aside the extra rent in a separate escrow account until your negotiations with your landlord have totally resolved.
Invoke Good Cause to a judge
1. If your landlord takes you to court, you can raise a Good Cause defense. Your landlord would then have to demonstrate to the judge that they raised the rent because of increased costs (taxes, maintenance costs, etc.) or be forced to lower the increase.

What is a "good cause" to evict or refuse to renew the lease?

Non payment of rent
Lease violations and nuisance activity
Landlord personal use/removal from market
Demolition
Failure to sign lease renewal or provide access to apartment

Does my landlord have to tell me if I'm covered by Good Cause?

Starting in August 2024, your landlord must notify you if you are covered by Good Cause at lease signing or renewing, raising the rent, or trying to evict you.

If they claim you are not covered, they must explain why. If your landlord takes you to court and claims to not be covered by Good Cause because they own only one rental unit, they will be required to disclose the name of every owner behind their LLC and the addresses of the all buildings they own. If your landlord fails to follow notice requirements, the judge can throw out your case.

If I'm already facing an eviction in Housing Court, can Good Cause help me?

The law passed on April 20, 2024 and does not cover eviction cases that were filed on or before that date. If your landlord has told you that you have to leave but has not yet filed an eviction case against you in court, you can still use Good Cause to stay in your home. Contact us!

What if I'm not on a lease?

As long as your unit qualifies for Good Cause, you are protected.

GET INVOLVED!

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