Croton-on-Hudson passes Good Cause Eviction law
This new law would prohibit eviction of residential tenants or non-renewals of leases without good cause or a court order.
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The Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees unanimously passed a Good Cause Eviction law Wednesday night.
This new law would prohibit eviction of residential tenants or non-renewals of leases without good cause or a court order.
Mayor Brian Pugh says a law like this is needed. He believes it will give tenants more security and protection from evictions and big rent hikes.
“It means that if they’re paying their rent and all the terms of their lease, they can have confidence that they will continue to have a home," says Pugh.
“My family lives paycheck to paycheck but we scrape by enough to make the rent each month. With good cause eviction’s strongest protections, we can protect my family and yours," says Ryan Arreco, a resident.
However, some organizations and landlords attended the meeting to protest the law. They told the board that they don’t raise rents regularly.
“But if you’re going to force us to go to court to ask for increases, those rents are going to be on an annual basis," says Joe Lippolis, a landlord.
The Hudson Valley Gateway Association of Realtors is concerned the law would discourage property owners from investing in essential upgrades. They’re also concerned it could eliminate “mom-and-pop” landlords and expressed concern about unintended consequences.
“Small landlords who end up having oil spills and there’s the unintended consequence of that and damages and they have to raise the rent in order to still make it," says Crystal Hawkins-Syska, HGAR Westchester regional director.
The village is now in the process of filing this with the state. Once it is processed, this new law will go into effect.
