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The Catskill Town Board will hold a public hearing on May 6 to discuss a proposed good cause eviction law. This legislation aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants without a valid reason, ensuring tenants have more security in their homes. The law's parameters, such as the number of units a landlord must own for the rules to apply, are still under discussion.
The Hudson Catskill Housing Coalition, which successfully pushed for similar legislation in the village of Catskill last year, is advocating for the town's adoption of this law. According to the Daily Gazette, the coalition's director of operations, Elliot Matos, participated in a recent town board meeting to address questions about the proposed law.
The village of Catskill's good cause eviction law, passed in November 2024, allows tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes and protects them from unreasonable evictions. Landlords can still evict tenants for reasons such as non-payment of rent or illegal activities. The law also defines a "small landlord" as someone owning just one rental unit, exempting them from the law's provisions, as reported by News10 ABC.
The town of Catskill's hearing comes amid a broader trend in New York, where several municipalities, including Hudson, Albany, and Kingston, have adopted similar laws. These laws aim to protect tenants while balancing the rights of landlords.