An estimated 84% of all rental units in Binghamton are covered under Good Cause Eviction Law. Good Cause applies to a building or landlord unless falling within one of the following exemptions:

• Units that have been issued a certificate of occupancy on or after January 1, 2009, provided the certificate is less than 30 years old.
• Public housing units where rents or evictions are already regulated by federal, state, or local law.
• Units rented from co-op and condos and manufactured housing units.
• Units in owner-occupied buildings with fewer than 11 units.
• Units within and for use by a religious facility or institution.
• Rent from a landlord who owns one unit or fewer in New York State.
• Rent is more than 345% of Fair Market Rent (≈$3,240/month for a one bedroom in 2025).

Under Real Property Law 231-C landlords must provide notice whether or not your rental unit is covered by the Good Cause Eviction Law. Notice needs to be provided when signing or renewing a lease, raising rent, or starting eviction proceedings.

• Good Cause Eviction Law Notice

The Good Cause Eviction Law establishes a "local rent standard," which is the amount of rent increase considered reasonable each year based on inflation in the local area. The local rent standard is set every year at the rate of inflation plus 5%, with a maximum allowable increase of 10%. A rent increase is presumptively unreasonable under the Good Cause Eviction Law if the rent increase is higher than the local rent standard.

• For example, if the inflation rate for the Binghamton area is 3%, the local rent standard would be 8% (5% + inflation).
• If a covered tenant's rent is $1,000 then increase of more than 8%, or $80, would be above the local rent standard.
• If, however, the local inflation rate were 7%, the local rent standard would be 10% since 7%+5% = 12% and the maximum local rent standard capped at 10%.
• If a covered tenant's rent is $1,000 then an increase of more than 10%, or $100, would be above the local rent standard.

• Yes. Good Cause Eviction is not a rent cap, but it does give tenants the right to challenge rent increases in excess of the local rent standard. If a tenant challenges the rent hike, and the landlord demonstrates that they raised rent beyond 10% or 5% CPI because of increased costs (e.g. increases in taxes, maintenance costs, or insurance), a judge may allow a larger increase.
• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Fair Market Rents (FMR) are adjusted annually. Notice about updates can be found at Homes and Community Renewal — Good Cause Eviction Page.

Binghamton added the following definitions as amendments to provide clarity.

• The term "nuisance" as used in the Good Cause Eviction Law for the City of Binghamton shall mean either a public or private nuisance.
• The terms "withdraw from the housing rental market" or "removal from the housing rental market" shall, subject to a good faith finding by a court pursuant to Real Property Law Section 216(1)(i), include a temporary removal or withdrawal from the housing market of a housing accommodation for the purposes of making significant repairs or improvements to a housing accommodation where the landlord appends to the notice required pursuant to Real Property Law Section 213-c the following:(1) documentation demonstrating the specific work to be accomplished and the timeline therefor and (2) an attestation that no rent or analogous revenue will be collected during the period of such work.

Full Good Cause Eviction Law

NYS Evictions

NYS Tenants Page

NYS Building Owners and Managers Page

NYS Housing Resources and Referrals

Good Cause Eviction Law Notice

NYS Good Cause Eviction Page