A law protecting renters that is making the rounds in hot real estate markets in upstate New York was voted down in Hudson, New York this week, according to the Albany Times Union.
So-called “Good Cause” laws require the automatic renewal of residential leases, securing the space for tenants whose accounts with their landlords are in good standing. Landlords who have kept rent increases under five percent would still be allowed to evict tenants, but only for a “good cause,” such as nonpayment of rent, damaging property or conducting illegal activity.
Such laws have already been approved in other upstate cities including Albany and Newburgh but was shot down after a 5-5 vote, with one abstention, by Hudson’s Common Council on Wednesday, according to the newspaper. The bill needed a majority to pass.
This was the second attempt to get the bill through, it having been passed by the Council earlier this year, but vetoed by Mayor Kamal Johnson who wanted a provision that would allow landlords to evict tenants if they were selling the building removed.
Johnson stumped for the bill with Council member Tiffany Garriga and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who has since announced his plans to run for governor, back in August.
Rents in Hudson and other upstate downs have been headed upward over the last decade as residents from New York City began buying homes there — a trend that kicked into high gear during the pandemic. Garriga noted before the vote that gentrification was “taking over,” according to the newspaper.
“Landlords are upset because they won’t have that 100 percent control to raise rent for whatever reason and then evict their tenants for whatever reason [deemed] justified by them — this law makes it fair,” she said.
Similar laws are being challenged in court. Three landlords and companies associated with them filed suit in Albany claiming the Good Cause law there violates state laws limiting local government involvement in regulating rent and evictions, and alleges that the city violated a process set out in the state law regarding rent stabilization, according to the paper.
[Albany Times Union] — Vince DiMiceli
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