Does Good Cause Eviction cover my apartment?

Your apartment is covered by New York's Good Cause Eviction law if it is in NYC (or a locality that opted in) and none of the law's exemptions fit: not rent regulated or income restricted, not a condo or co-op, not in a building with a 2009-or-later certificate of occupancy, not in a small owner-occupied building, not owned by a small landlord, and not above the high-rent cutoff. Answer the questions below in that order to get a likely answer and the next step.

The tool follows the exemptions in Real Property Law § 214. It gives a likely answer, not a ruling. Only a court can decide coverage if your landlord disagrees. For the full background, read Good Cause Eviction law in New York explained.

Why the questions come in this order

The first questions are the ones most renters can answer from their lease or a quick lookup. Location and regulated status rule out the largest groups. The building questions come next because they are public record. The landlord's total unit count is last among the hard exemptions because it is the hardest to check yourself, though the landlord's notice must disclose it.

How to answer each question

NYC high-rent cutoffs for 2026

These are the figures in DHCR's 2026 Good Cause notice for all five NYC counties. Outside the city, opted-in localities apply their own percentage (275%, 300% or 345% in most) to their county's fair market rent.

Tricky cases

• LLC landlords. The small-landlord test counts every person with a direct or indirect stake in the owning entity. An LLC that can't identify all of them doesn't qualify. Units held through several different LLCs with the same owner all count toward that person’s total.
• No written lease. Coverage doesn't depend on having a lease. RPL § 216 protects tenants in covered units even with no written lease or an expired one, and HPD says the same.
• A condo unit rented by an individual owner. Condo units are exempt as a category, even if the owner rents out many of them.
• Owner-occupied buildings with more than ten units. The owner-occupied exemption stops at ten units. Because units owned in whole or in part all count toward the small-landlord limit, an owner of an 11-unit building can't use the NYC small-landlord exemption either.

What your landlord's notice must say

Since August 18, 2024, landlords must attach a state-form Good Cause notice (RPL § 231-c) to every new lease, renewal, notice of non-renewal or of an increase of 5% or more, 14-day rent demand, and eviction petition. It must tick "covered" or the specific exemption. In an eviction case, a landlord claiming the small-landlord exemption must name its owners and their units. A covered landlord must state the reason for any non-renewal and the justification for any increase above the local rent standard.

What to do with the result

1. 1

   Likely covered

   Check your renewal offer with the Good Cause rent increase checker. If it is above 8.38%, ask in writing for the justification. If you get a non-renewal or court papers, get legal help right away.
2. 2

   Likely exempt

   Your lease and other state law still protect you, including notice periods for big increases and non-renewals. See rent increase notice rules and how to negotiate a market-rate renewal.
3. 3

   Unclear

   Gather the lease, the Good Cause notice and the building lookup, then call 311 for the Tenant Helpline or Housing Court Answers (718-557-1379). If you are sued, you may qualify for a free lawyer under Right to Counsel.