KINGSTON
Kingston is leading the way on tenants rights! Kingston was the first upstate city to opt-in to rent stabilization, and the second upstate city to opt-in to Good Cause Eviction protections.
If you are a tenant in Kingston, 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 Kingston who:
Live in a building built before 2009
Pay less than 300% of Fair Market Rent ($3,900/month for a one bedroom)
Rent from a landlord who owns more than 1 rental unit 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
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 (8.45% in Kingston as of May 2024).
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 (8.45% in Kingston as of May 2024), 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 8.45%, 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 8.45%. Set aside the extra rent in a separate escrow account until your negotiations with your landlord have totally resolved. If you have questions about how to open a escrow account, contact our tenant hotline at (845) 481-0882.
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 Kingston 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.
Kingston has 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 the services outlined in their lease, to have their leases renewed, and to be protected from eviction except on grounds allowed by law.
❄️ IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT THE RENT FREEZE! ❄️
Rents in rent stabilized units in Kingston have been frozen since August 1, 2022. That means that rents should not have increased for any lease effective after July 31, 2022.
If you signed a lease effective August 1, 2022 that included a rent increase from the previous lease, contact our tenant hotline at (845) 481-0882.
GET INVOLVED
Take action with us to win tenant protections in more cities! Help us ensure thousands of renters know their rights so they can be protected from illegal evictions and rent increases.
CHAT WITH OUR ORGANIZER! 👋🏻
Hi, I’m Jenna (she/her). I’m the For the Many organizer in Kingston working to mobilize our community in the fight for housing justice. I’d love to talk with you about ways to 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: 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
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Contact your Kingston City Councilmember
Department of Health (Ulster): call for heat/hot water/pest issues
M-F 9-5 call (845) 340–3150
After hours call (845) 943-6104
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Catholic Charities: Help with rental arrears, first month’s rent, or security deposits, (845)-340-9170 x 3030
RUPCO: Security deposit and rental assistance
Rental Assistance Walk-in Times: Tuesday and Thursday, 3pm to 4pm ONLY 289 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401
United Way: Up to $1000 for utility assistance, (845-331-4199)
Family of Woodstock: Financial assistance, works with social services, (845)-679-2485
People for People: Financial assistance, (845)-343-1663
Salvation Army: Financial assistance for heat/utilities, (845)-331-1803
Jewish Family Services: Yard maintenance/minor repairs, (845) 338 – 2980
Community Action Kingston: Pantry, housing support, free cell phone, job training, clothing, (845)-338 -785