Town of Poughkeepsie Passes "Good Cause" Legislation in 4-3 Vote

After the Town of Poughkeepsie heard arguments from proponents of “good cause” eviction legislation, the Town Board voted 4-3 to pass “good cause” for the town of over 45,000.

“One-third of Town of Poughkeepsie households are renters,” said Daniel Atonna, the political coordinator for the non-profit organization For the Many, “so about one-third of Town of Poughkeepsie households would be protected by good cause eviction if it passes with the strongest possible protections.”

According to Atonna, “good cause” eviction “protects tenants from eviction if they’re paying their rent and following the lease. They would be protected from eviction without cause, and from rent increases above 10% or the consumer price index plus 5%, whichever is lower.”

“I am fully supportive of amending our town code to allow us to opt into support of the New York State Good Cause Eviction Law. Many residents of the Town of Poughkeepsie will have more protections because of the provisions of the law than they did previously against unreasonable rent increases or evictions without good cause,” said Ward 5 Board Member Ryan Sharpe.

“I’m pleased that the board passed Good Cause Eviction tonight to support tenants from unfair and retaliatory practices and giving them due process,” said Barbara Laird, Town Board Member from Ward 2, “This law is just one facet of the solution towards solving our housing crisis.”

The law affirms landlords’ right to evict tenants for legitimate reasons (including non-payment of rent, violation of contract, and disorderly behavior) as well as to take units off the market for various reasons; charge tenants for the cost of major repairs; and raise rent to 10% per year or 5% plus inflation, whichever is lower. However, the law also prevents the eviction of tenants without cause—for example, when a tenant complains about deteriorated or dangerous conditions and then comes home to an eviction notice.

“Good cause” eviction measures have been passed in several other areas in the Hudson Valley and surrounding, including the City of Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Kingston, Newburgh, Fishkill, and New Paltz.

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