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Good Cause Eviction Law: what NY small landlords need to know
Who's covered, who's exempt, and the one notice every New York landlord has to give, covered or not.
Updated October 25, 2026. Every rule below links to its official source; see all of them on our Legal sources page.
What the law does
The Good Cause Eviction Law took effect on April 20, 2024. For covered homes, NYC HPD explains that a landlord can't end a tenancy without a "good cause" reason. Ending a tenancy includes an eviction, not renewing a lease, or ending a month-to-month tenancy. Tenants can also challenge rent increases above the local rent standard if they're taken to court for nonpayment.
It is mandatory in New York City. Outside NYC it applies only where the locality has opted in, according to NY Homes and Community Renewal.
Is my building exempt?
These are the exemptions small landlords ask about most, from HPD's list:
- Small landlord: you own 10 or fewer units (apartments or single-family homes) in total in New York State. For an LLC or other company, every individual owner must own 10 or fewer units in total, counting every building they have a share in. If you claim this exemption in court, you must give the tenant a list of the homes you own in the state; your own home isn't counted.
- Owner-occupied: a building with 10 or fewer apartments where the owner lives, even if the owner has more units elsewhere.
- Newer buildings: homes built on or after January 1, 2009 are exempt until 30 years after the certificate of occupancy.
- High rents: homes renting for more than 245% of HUD's Fair Market Rent. HCR publishes the amounts each year.
- Rent-stabilized, rent-controlled and other government-regulated homes, condo and co-op units, seasonal homes, and a few other categories.
If you're covered: the good cause reasons
HPD lists the reasons a covered landlord can end a tenancy, including:
- Unpaid rent (unless it's unpaid because of an unreasonable increase).
- Breaking a substantial lease obligation, a nuisance, or damage to the property.
- Illegal use, or unreasonably refusing access for repairs or showings.
- The owner or a close family member moving in as their primary residence (not if the tenant is 65+ or has a disability).
- Demolition or taking the unit off the market.
- The tenant refusing reasonable lease changes offered in writing 30 to 90 days before the lease ends.
For the move-in, demolition and off-the-market reasons, the landlord must show "clear and compelling evidence" in court.
The notice every landlord must give
This is the part most small landlords miss. RPL § 231-c requires the "Notice to Tenant of Applicability or Inapplicability of the New York State Good Cause Eviction Law." Landlords who are exempt must give it too: they check "No" and mark the exemption.
Per HPD, it goes with:
- every new lease and every renewal;
- a notice that you won't renew, or that a tenancy is ending;
- a rent increase of more than 5%;
- a 14-day rent demand;
- an eviction petition filed in court.
The notice says whether the home is covered, and if not, why. If it is covered, it gives the good cause reason when you're ending a tenancy, and your reason when a rent increase is above the local rent standard. HCR posts the current notice form on its Good Cause page.
The local rent standard
It's local inflation plus 5%, capped at 10%. In NYC it's 8.38% as of May 4, 2026. Our NY rent increase guide shows how to apply it.
How LandlordSquare handles it
Every New York notice and lease on this site asks a few plain questions, then attaches the full § 231-c notice with the right boxes marked: the 14-day rent demand, the non-renewal notice, the rent increase notice and the New York lease.
Want a lease that already does all this?
Answer one question at a time. We keep the numbers within your state's limits and attach the required disclosure pages. New leases and renewals.
Frequently asked questions
Who is exempt from the Good Cause Eviction Law in New York?
Exemptions include owners of 10 or fewer units in New York State, owner-occupied buildings with 10 or fewer apartments, homes built on or after January 1, 2009 (for 30 years), rent-regulated homes, condo and co-op units, and homes renting above 245% of Fair Market Rent, per NYC HPD.
Do exempt landlords still need to give the Good Cause notice?
Yes. RPL § 231-c requires the notice from every landlord, with new and renewal leases, non-renewal and rent increase notices, and 14-day rent demands. An exempt landlord marks that the unit isn't covered and gives the reason.
Does an LLC count as a small landlord?
Per NYC HPD, an LLC-owned building is exempt only if each individual owner of the company owns 10 or fewer units in total in New York State.
When did the Good Cause Eviction Law start?
It took effect on April 20, 2024. The notice requirement started on August 18, 2024, according to NYC HPD.