Cheektowaga board opens discussion on opting into New York's good-cause eviction law

Councilman Steven Nowicki introduced a conversation about New York State's good-cause eviction law during the March 10 meeting, presenting materials that summarize tenant protections and the opt-in mechanism municipalities can use. He told the board that good-cause protections "bar landlords from denying renewals or raising rent above a certain amount without proving a good cause," and said the law provides guaranteed lease renewals for tenants in good standing and limits rent hikes to the lesser of a 10% cap or CPI plus 5% in many cases.

Board members raised practical concerns: one asked whether the town keeps eviction or rent-increase records (staff said the town does not maintain a central eviction filing database); others asked how small, owner-occupant landlords and units that include utilities would be treated and who would enforce disputes. The supervisor said enforcement likely would continue to be handled through local housing courts and recommended the board consult stakeholders, including housing-court actors and local landlords, before deciding whether to opt in. Several members suggested the town could craft local carve-outs (for instance, defining a "small-time landlord" by number of doors) and requested case studies from other upstate municipalities that have opted in.

Councilman Nowicki said he had sent board members links to state resources, Attorney General guidance and the statute text, and proposed this be an ongoing conversation rather than immediate action.

Representative quote: "What is good cause? Good cause protections bar landlords from denying renewals or raising rent above a certain amount without proving a good cause," Councilman Nowicki said while outlining the central provisions of the law.

What's next: The board asked staff to gather more local data, consult stakeholders and return with options and examples from municipalities that have opted in or crafted local rules.