POUGHKEEPSIE
If you are a tenant in Poughkeepsie, you may be covered by Good Cause Eviction or Rent Stabilization – read below to find out if you’re covered and what those tenant protections mean.
GOOD CAUSE EVICTION
WHO IS COVERED BY GOOD CAUSE?
Good Cause Eviction covers tenants who live in the City of Poughkeepsie who:
Live in a building built before 2009
Pay less than 345% of Fair Market Rent (~$4,900/month for a one bedroom)
Rent from a landlord who owns more than 1 rental units total
Do not live in an owner-occupied building with fewer than 11 units
Do not live in a co-op or condo
Do not rent their home as part of an employment agreement
Do not live in manufactured housing
Are not rent stabilized or living in subsidized or public housing (already have Good Cause)
WHAT ARE GOOD CAUSE PROTECTIONS?
Guaranteed lease renewals: Rest easy knowing your lease or month-to-month tenancy renewal is guaranteed.
Challenge large rent increases: Force landlords to justify rent hikes more than 10% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5%, whichever is lower.
Protection from unjustified evictions: Landlords can’t evict without a ‘Good Cause,’ like nonpayment of rent or lease violations.
WHEN TO USE A GOOD CAUSE DEFENSE
If you are covered by Good Cause Eviction, you are entitled to have your lease or month-to-month tenancy renewed.
If your rent increase is more than more than 10% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5%, whichever is lower, tell your landlord it is an unreasonable increase and that a judge could force your landlord to justify it.
If your landlord takes you to court, you can raise a Good Cause defense. Your landlord would then have to demonstrate to the judge that they raised the rent because of increased costs (taxes, maintenance costs, etc.) or be forced to lower the increase.
HOW TO USE A GOOD CAUSE DEFENSE
1. Demand Notice. Your landlord must give you at least 30 days written notice to raise your rent more than 5% . If your landlord tries to raise rent without proper notice, inform them they are violating Real Property Law L Section 226-C. Do not pay any rent increase until they give written notice.
2. Tell your landlord it’s unreasonable. If your rent increase is more than 10% (or CPI+5%, whichever is lower), tell your landlord it is an unreasonable increase and that a judge could force your landlord to justify it based on increased costs.
3. Withhold the unreasonable increase. You can withhold the rent increase above the ‘reasonable’ threshold. Pay your old rent plus CPI+5% or 10%, whichever is lower. If you can, set aside the extra rent in a separate escrow account until your negotiations with your landlord have totally resolved.
4. Invoke Good Cause to a judge. If your landlord takes you to court, you can raise a Good Cause defense. Your landlord would then have to demonstrate to the judge that they raised the rent because of increased costs (taxes, maintenance costs, etc.) or be forced to lower the increase.
OTHER FAQS
Does my landlord have to tell me if I’m covered by Good Cause?
Your landlord must notify you if you are covered by Good Cause at lease signing or renewing, raising the rent, or trying to evict you. If they take you to court, they will have to explain to the judge why they claim you are not covered.
What if I’m not on a lease?
As long as your unit qualifies for Good Cause, you are protected.
RENT STABILIZATION
WHO IS COVERED BY RENT STABILIZATION?
Tenants who live in the City of Poughkeepsie who live in a building with six or more units built before 1974 are covered by rent stabilization. Public housing is not included in rent stabilization.
WHAT IS RENT STABILIZATION?
Rent Stabilization is a system of regulating rent increases, instead of allowing individual landlords to set rent increases.
Poughkeepsie will have a rent guidelines board that sets the maximum allowable rates for rent increases in stabilized apartments. These guidelines rates are set once a year and are effective for leases beginning on or after October 1st of each year.
Rent Stabilized tenants are entitled to receive required services, to have their leases renewed, and to be protected from eviction except on grounds allowed by law.
❄️ IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT THE RENT FREEZE! ❄️
Corporate landlords have filed a lawsuit to try to stop rent stabilization in Poughkeepsie.
On July 26, a landlord lobby group filed a lawsuit claiming that the City’s declaration of a housing emergency and implementation of ETPA was based on inadequate data. Lawsuits such as this one are common when a city stands up for tenants! We are confident that the City fulfilled its requirements. If a judge rules fairly, rent stabilization in Poughkeepsie should be upheld. The legal process takes time, however. A lawsuit can sometimes take years to resolve. In the meantime, a judge has essentially frozen the process in place.
Your rent is FROZEN during this lawsuit.
The rent freeze is still in effect for rent stabilized tenants. Whether you have a lease or you’re a month-to-month tenant, while the lawsuit is pending: your rent remains frozen at the the level you paid on June 18, 2024. You cannot be evicted without good cause.
If you were given a lease after June 18, 2024 that included a rent increase, contact our tenant hotline at (845) 481-0882.
GET INVOLVED
Take action with us win tenant protections in more cities and help us reach thousands of tenants to know their rights so they can be protected from illegal evictions and rent increases.
CHAT WITH OUR ORGANIZER! 👋🏽
Hi, I’m Jairo (he/him). I’m the For the Many organizer in Poughkeepsie working to mobilize our community in the fight for housing justice. I’d love to talk with you about ways you get get involved in our work! Email me at [email protected] to set up a time to chat!
RESOURCES
HUDSON VALLEY TENANT HOTLINE
Call (845) 481-0882 to speak to one of our volunteers.
It is not a live line, but if you call and leave a message with your question, one of our volunteers will get back to you as soon as possible.
Don’t want to call? Fill out an intake form here instead.
LEGAL SUPPORT
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley: Legal advice from an attorney, (877) 574-8529
Hudson Valley Justice Center: Receive free legal advice, (914) 308-0191
Mediation Services: Free/low cost for housing issues,(845)-372-8771 x5001, [email protected] DRC mediation intake
GOVERNMENTAL CONTACTS
Contact the Building Department
Contact your Poughkeepsie City Councilmember
Dutchess County Department of Health: Call for heat/hot water/pest issues Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm. 845-486-3400
EMERGENCY HOUSING
Hudson River Housing Emergency Housing Hotline: Emergency housing shelter for adults and families (845) 452-0019
General questions about homelessness services: (845) 905-6138
Grace Smith House Domestic Violence Shelter: (845) 471-3038
MHA Addiction Crisis Center Addiction Treatment Center: (845) 471-0310
River Haven Youth Shelter For people 18 and under: (845) 454-3600
Hudson Valley House of Hope: Shelter and Counseling Services (845) 765-029