Hudson mayor pushes for “good cause” eviction law

Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson is getting behind a local bill to enact a “good cause” eviction law, which would require landlords to renew leases for tenants in good standing.

The bill was introduced during the city’s Common Council meeting earlier this month, according to the Times-Union.

Johnson stood with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at a press conference Thursday, where they discussed the bill, according to the Times-Union.

Albany is the only municipality in New York state to have a similar law, which prevents landlords from pushing out tenants in good standing after their leases expire. Efforts to create a statewide law have failed.

In Hudson, the law would force landlords to automatically renew leases for tenants in good standing. Landlords would be forced to justify why they are booting residents, which they would have to do through eviction court.

Tenants could still face eviction for illegal activity or damage, if the landlord wants to move into the property or if the landlord sells it to a buyer under terms that demand the property be tenant-free.

Another reason tenants wouldn’t be able to be evicted: For nonpayment of rent that increased upwards of 5 percent a year, unless the landlord can justify the rent hike in eviction court.

The Hudson Common Council legal committee will review the proposed law in the coming weeks. The full Council could vote on it as soon as next month.

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[Times-Union] — Holden Walter-Warner