An article from last week that we wanted to share...Demolition isn’t so clear cut under New York’s Good Cause legislation.
— THE CITY (@THECITYNY) May 13, 2026
The gray area is one of the few reasons a landlord can evict rent-paying tenants in unregulated apartments under the 2024 tenant protections law. https://t.co/z0N1acgjZw
Three East Village tenants are at the center of a new legal fight that could help shape how New York’s Good Cause Eviction law is interpreted in housing court.
As reported by THE CITY, landlords are increasingly citing "demolition" as a reason not to renew leases under the state's relatively new Good Cause protections — even when buildings themselves are not actually slated to come down.
The article focuses in part on three East Village residents who are challenging whether gut renovations of individual apartments qualify as "demolition" under the law. Their cases could help determine how broadly landlords can use that exemption moving forward.
Under the Good Cause Eviction law, which took effect in April 2024, many market-rate tenants gained new protections against eviction and excessive rent increases.
However, landlords can still refuse lease renewals under certain conditions — including if they can show a good-faith plan to demolish a housing accommodation.
The problem: the law never clearly defines whether "demolition" means tearing down an entire building or substantially renovating individual units.
As THE CITY notes, housing court judges are now beginning to weigh in, with tenants arguing some landlords are using renovation plans as a workaround to sidestep Good Cause protections.
Read the full article here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.
However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.
If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.