POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie Common Council passed the Good Cause Eviction legislation at Monday night’s meeting. The legislation aids tenants by protecting against unfair evictions and predatory rent increases. Six lawmakers voted for the law with Councilwoman Lorraine Johnson voting against it. Councilmembers Sarah Brannen and Sakima McClinton were absent from the meeting.
The law prohibits landlords from evicting tenants except under several circumstances, such as the tenant violating an obligation of their lease, or the landlord wanting to reclaim the property for personal use. The law also prevents landlords from evicting tenants who refuse to pay rent if they consider rent increases to be “unconscionable,” known as “predatory” rent increases.
The law states that landlords shall not remove tenants except under several listed circumstances, such as the tenant violating an obligation of their lease, or the landlord wanting to reclaim the property for personal use. The law also prevents evictions in cases in which the tenant fails to pay rent due to a pattern of “unconscionable” rent increases.
The Poughkeepsie Good Cause Eviction law is similar to the legislation that was recently approved in Hudson and Newburgh. Kingston is currently considering eviction legislation as well.
“More than five million New York households have no protections against unfair evictions and over 59 percent of the more than 8,000 renters in the City of Poughkeepsie are considered rent-burdened,” said Sarah Salem, Poughkeepsie Council chairperson. “This legislation was critically needed for renters in the City of Poughkeepsie and its passage not only ensures housing security to our tenants but will strengthen our ability to provide stable and quality housing on a long-term basis to the benefit of our entire community, homeowners, tenants, and landlords alike.”
Second Ward Councilman Evan Menist proposed the law. “At a time when our neighbors are being displaced from their homes at an alarming rate and long-time local landlords are being bought out and replaced by greedy corporations, Poughkeepsie needs the protections provided by Good Cause Eviction,” adding “In this city where over 70 percent of residents are renters, working families deserve to know that their representatives in city government are fighting for them, not for corporate profits.”
Mayor Rob Rolison has 10 days to either sign or veto the legislation.
