Good Cause Protects New Rochelle Tenants from Unfair Evictions and Rent Hikes
The New Rochelle City Council voted to opt into Good Cause Eviction Protections, protecting New Rochelle tenants from predatory rent hikes and unjust evictions. New Rochelle joins Croton-On-Hudson, White Plains, and Tarrytown as Westchester County Good Cause opt-ins and is now the 19th locality across New York State to adopt the policy. This victory comes after years of tireless advocacy by tenants.
Good Cause Eviction Protections protect tenants from rent hikes and unfair evictions and guarantee lease renewals to tenants who’ve been paying rent and following their lease. Good Cause requires landlords to have a “good cause,” such as non-payment or violating the lease, to remove a tenant, and it also allows tenants to challenge rent hikes that are more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5% (8.79% in Westchester as of April 2025) or 10%, whichever is lower.
The newly passed legislation closes the LLC loophole by lowering the portfolio size exemption to 1 unit and raising the high rent threshold to 345% of Fair Market Rent to ensure protections apply to the majority of New Rochelle renters. These amendments set New Rochelle in line with all other outside NYC localities that opted into the protections since the passage of statewide legislation in the 2024 New York State budget.
“Eviction is trauma and passing ‘Good Cause’ is only our first treatment,” says Councilman Shane Osinloye, Deputy Mayor “As New Rochelle continues to grow and thrive, adopting ‘Good Cause’ puts our City Council’s commitment to retaining and protecting our neighbors into writing. Enhancing tenant experiences is next.”
“Tenants across upstate are demanding – and winning – the protections they deserve,” said Housing Justice for All Coalition Director Cea Weaver. “The New York tenant movement has shown that no matter how much money the real estate lobby spends trying to stop us, we will keep fighting until every tenant has a right to remain in their homes. We’ve delivered win after win for our people in the biggest expansion of tenant rights in 50 years, and we will be bringing that momentum with us into the legislative session next year.”
Good Cause Eviction Protections addresses New Rochelle’s urgent housing crisis, where over half renters are rent-burdened. Eviction cases rose by 16% in Westchester County between 2022 and 2024.
To be eligible for Good Cause, New Rochelle tenants must live in a building built before 2009; pay less than 345% of Fair Market Rent; rent from a landlord who owns more than 1 rental unit total; not live in an owner-occupied building with fewer than 11 units, not live in a co-op or condo; not rent their home as part of an employment agreement; not live in manufactured housing; and not live in rent stabilized, subsidized, or public housing.
“I commend the New Rochelle City Council for considering the Good Cause Eviction ordinance—an essential step toward protecting renters and ensuring housing stability for thousands of local families,” said Kwamain Dixon, New Rochelle Community Advocate. “In 2024 alone, over 1,100 eviction filings have taken place in New Rochelle, where nearly half of residents are renters. The Good Cause proposal would prevent arbitrary evictions, limit excessive rent increases, and ensure tenants aren’t punished for requesting necessary repairs. These are reasonable, balanced protections that will cover roughly 10,000 rental units. Stable housing benefits the entire city—keeping families together, children in school, and neighborhoods connected. I urge the Council to pass this ordinance and help keep New Rochelle a city where everyone can afford to call home.”
The Village of Croton-on Hudson, and the City of White Plains have also adopted Good Cause Eviction Laws in Westchester.
