Good Cause Eviction gives many NYC renters stronger lease-renewal rights. If your apartment is covered, a landlord usually needs a legally recognized reason to evict you or refuse renewal, and unusually large rent increases can be challenged.
Good Cause is not the same as rent stabilization. It is a separate set of protections for certain market-rate tenancies.
The most important questions are whether your apartment is covered, whether the increase crosses the current local rent standard, and whether the landlord actually has a valid legal reason to refuse renewal.
- Core protection:
- Covered tenants get stronger renewal rights and can challenge unreasonable increases. (Source)
- Rent standard:
- The law uses a 5% plus CPI formula, capped at 10%, to define the local rent standard. (Source)
- Important caveat:
- Coverage depends on exemptions, ownership structure, rent level, and building status. (Source)
What Is Good Cause Eviction?
Good Cause limits when a covered tenant can be forced out or priced out.
The rule in one sentence
If your tenancy is covered, a landlord generally needs a legally recognized reason to evict you or refuse a renewal, and large rent increases may be challengeable as unreasonable.
Effective date: April 20, 2024.
Who Is Covered?
Coverage is the first question to answer before arguing about the size of a rent increase.
Often points toward coverage
- The apartment is market-rate rather than already rent-stabilized.
- The property is not a small-owner or owner-occupied exempt situation.
- The unit rent is below the law’s high-rent exemption threshold.
Common reasons a unit is exempt
- Small landlords and certain owner-occupied buildings.
- Newer construction that still falls within the statute’s exemption period.
- Units already regulated under another housing system, including rent stabilization.
Do not rely on one shortcut. People often reduce Good Cause to one rule like “10+ units” or “built before 2009,” but the actual analysis can involve ownership totals, the unit’s rent, and statutory exemptions. Use official guidance before assuming coverage.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in NYC?
This is the long-tail question most renters ask, but the answer depends on whether Good Cause applies.
If your apartment is covered
The law uses a local rent standard to judge whether an increase may be unreasonable. In NYC, the formula is generally 5% plus inflation, capped at 10%. HPD publishes the current local rent standard, so the exact number can change over time.
What that means in practice
- A covered tenant can challenge an increase that exceeds the current standard.
- The landlord may still try to justify the increase under the statute.
- Whether the increase is lawful can depend on the facts and the forum.
If your apartment is not covered
Good Cause may not limit the increase. Other notice rules can still apply, but the Good Cause rent-increase standard itself depends on coverage.
When Can a Landlord Refuse Renewal?
Covered tenancies do not become non-terminable forever, but the landlord must have a recognized cause.
Examples often cited as valid causes
- Nonpayment of rent
- Substantial lease violations
- Nuisance or illegal use allegations
- Other causes recognized by the statute and the court
Common renter warning sign
If a covered tenant receives a non-renewal or major increase with little or no explanation, the first step is to collect the written notice and confirm whether the landlord identified the apartment as Good Cause covered or exempt.
What Tenants Should Do Next
The strongest position comes from documentation, not assumptions.
Get the renewal offer, rent increase, and exemption claim in writing.
Check official HPD, HCR, and Attorney General guidance before responding.
Compare the increase to the current local rent standard rather than an old screenshot or social post.
Speak with a qualified tenant attorney or housing advocate if the facts look disputed.