The Legal Aid Society called on Albany lawmakers to pass “Good Cause” eviction, critical budget-neutral legislation that would provide millions of tenants in unregulated units with basic protections against extortionate rent increases and unjust evictions. This latest call is in response to City data revealing that New York City Marshals executed 11,973 evictions in 2023, more than double the previous year’s total.

“Good Cause” would require landlords to demonstrate a justification for evicting tenants and would restrict rent increases to either three percent or 1.5 times the inflation rate, whichever is higher.

“New York’s housing crisis shows no signs of abating soon, and left unaddressed, more New Yorkers will face eviction and displacement from their homes and communities,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-In-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society.

“This moment demands that Albany lawmakers finally enact ‘Good Cause’ eviction to ensure that tenants in unregulated units have basic protections to defend against unwarranted evictions and exorbitant rent increases,” she continued. “The Legal Aid Society looks forward to working with both Governor Hochul and the Legislature to see this budget-neutral, common-sense legislation finally codified into law.”