Good Cause Eviction challenges in Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Albany became the first city to opt-in to Good Cause Eviction, back in June, and since then a handful of other cities have opted in. Hudson could be next as its common council is considering the opt-in on Tuesday evening.

Six cities have opted-in to Good Cause Eviction. After Albany, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Ithaca, Beacon, and Newburgh all opted-in to the statewide legislation that gives renters more rights. 

One local Albany organizer, who pushed for Good Cause Eviction, said it’s been challenging discerning when those protections went into effect.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan signed it into law the first week of July. But getting tenants and landlords on the same page has been an uphill battle, according to the Executive Director of the United Tenants of Albany Canyon Ryan.

“In the one case that we did raise Good Cause Eviction, the court said that it wasn’t in effect until August 15. Which, as far as we can tell, is very much not true and I’m not sure where that date came from so that case is going to a trial,” said Ryan.

He said landlords are interpreting the law differently.

“And what landlords are saying is because I gave you a lease renewal notice or because I gave you a rent increase notice or because I decided not to renew your lease before July 5th you’re not protected,” said Ryan.

But he said that’s wrong and attorney Ryan McCall agrees. 

“So my understanding is so long as the Good Cause Eviction is in effect and if somebody goes ahead and says, ‘I am challenging a rent increase,’ typically it needs to be as of the day of the filing,” said McCall.

He is the principal attorney at McCall, Sweeney & Silva and expects the administrative hiccups to be worked out down the road. 

“There is going to be legislation down the line that is going to recodify and streamline a little bit as far as how Good Cause Eviction is actually moving forward,” said McCall. 

The Hudson Common Council has Good Cause Eviction on the agenda Tuesday night.

Organizers in Troy also hope to opt-in, so far collecting more than 1,000 signatures in support of the measure.