Good cause eviction Kingston protections apply to many renters in the City of Kingston. Kingston opted in to New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law, so covered tenants can’t be pushed out just because a lease ended. Under good cause eviction Kingston rules, a renewal increase above 8.15% is presumed unreasonable. That figure comes from the state notice first posted July 16, 2026, and it stays in place until the next yearly notice, which is due by August 1, 2027.
Is Your Unit Covered by Good Cause Eviction Kingston?
Start with the basics. The state housing agency (DHCR) lists the City of Kingston as an opted-in city in its notice first posted July 16, 2026. The Attorney General’s office also listed Kingston as of April 2025. As a result, most market-rate apartments in the city are covered. However, good cause eviction Kingston rules have real exceptions.
For example, you are not covered if your building got its certificate of occupancy on or after January 1, 2009. You are also not covered if your apartment is rent regulated, income-restricted, a condo or co-op unit, or a sublet. Kingston’s “small landlord” definition is very narrow. Only a landlord who owns no more than one unit anywhere in New York counts. In most cases, that means your landlord is covered.
| Rule | What it says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston opted in | City of Kingston is on the state list of opted-in cities | DHCR notice, July 16, 2026; RPL § 213(1) |
| Newer buildings exempt | Certificate of occupancy on or after January 1, 2009 | NY Attorney General guide |
| Small landlord exempt | In Kingston: owns no more than one unit anywhere in NY | DHCR notice, July 16, 2026 |
| High-rent exemption | In Kingston: rent above 300% of HUD fair market rent | DHCR notice, July 16, 2026; RPL § 214(15) |
| Owner-occupied exemption | Owner lives in the building and it has 10 or fewer units | NY Attorney General guide |
The high-rent limit is based on HUD’s fair market rent for Ulster County. That’s $1,386 for a one-bedroom and $1,818 for a two-bedroom. At 300%, the limit is roughly $4,158 and $5,454 a month. DHCR only publishes the 245% chart, so confirm your exact limit with DHCR. Kingston’s threshold also differs from other towns that opted in:
| Locality | High-rent exemption (% of fair market rent) | Small landlord owns no more than |
|---|---|---|
| City of Kingston | 300% | 1 unit |
| City of Albany | 345% | 1 unit |
| City of Rochester | 245% | 1 unit |
| Village of Catskill | 275% | 1 unit |
| City of White Plains | 345% | 4 units |
Your landlord may say they are exempt because they own the building through an LLC. That usually doesn’t work. The Attorney General’s office says a landlord claiming “small landlord” status must name every person behind the LLC. Read the Attorney General’s full coverage guide here.
How Much Rent Can Go Up Under Good Cause Eviction Kingston
State law uses a “local rent standard.” It is 5% plus the yearly change in the consumer price index, capped at 10%. Kingston is in Ulster County. Ulster County uses the Northeast Region CPI, which rose 3.15% from 2024 to 2025. As a result, the good cause eviction Kingston standard is 8.15%. It comes from the DHCR notice first posted July 16, 2026, and applies until the next notice is due by August 1, 2027.
For example, say your rent is $1,500. An 8.15% raise is $122.25, for a new rent of $1,622.25. Anything above that is presumed unreasonable. However, the law doesn’t freeze your rent outright. Your landlord can try to show a judge that a bigger increase is needed. The court must consider property taxes. It can also consider fuel, insurance, maintenance, and major repairs. Repairs caused by the landlord’s own neglect don’t count.
Your landlord must also give proper notice. Starting August 18, 2024, every lease, renewal, and legal notice must say whether your apartment is covered. If it isn’t, the notice must say why. Typically, good cause eviction Kingston renewals must be offered 30, 60, or 90 days before your lease ends. The exact number depends on how long you’ve lived there. See DHCR’s current Good Cause Eviction Law notice.
Eviction Protections in This City
Under good cause eviction Kingston rules, an expired lease alone isn’t enough to evict you. Your landlord must prove a legal reason. Those reasons include unpaid rent, a lease violation, nuisance behavior, or illegal use of the apartment. Refusing reasonable access for repairs counts too. So does refusing a reasonable renewal offer. However, if you fell behind because of an unreasonable rent increase, unpaid rent is not a valid reason.
Some evictions are “no-fault.” For example, a landlord may want the apartment for themselves or a close family member as a main home. They cannot do this if you are 65 or older or disabled. They also can’t do it if another suitable vacant unit exists in the building. A landlord may also plan to demolish the unit or take it off the rental market. In those cases, they must prove a good-faith plan.
The official sources don’t list a relocation payment for good cause eviction Kingston tenants. Check with the City of Kingston before assuming you’re owed one. If your landlord lied about moving in or demolishing, you may be able to sue. You could recover money damages and attorney’s fees.
What to Do If Your Landlord Breaks the Rule
The official sources don’t name a separate Kingston rent board. In most cases, you start with the NY Attorney General. Call the hotline at 1-800-771-7755. The hearing-impaired line is 1-800-788-9898. You can ask questions or report your landlord. Ask the City of Kingston whether it has a local housing office that takes good cause eviction Kingston complaints.
Gather your papers first. Bring your lease, every renewal offer, and any rent increase notice. Also bring rent receipts, texts, and emails. Write down dates of repair requests. If your landlord claims to be a small landlord, research who owns the LLC. The Attorney General suggests JustFix for this. If DHCR says your rent is above the high-rent limit, save the fair market rent chart too.
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Don’t wait if you get court papers. Contact a local legal-aid office or tenant attorney right away. The Attorney General’s office points tenants to LawHelp.org for free or low-cost help. In court, you can raise the Good Cause Eviction Law as a defense. You can also ask for discovery to learn who really owns your building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does good cause eviction Kingston cover my apartment if my landlord owns only my building?
Probably, as long as your landlord owns more than one unit in New York. Kingston’s small-landlord exemption only covers owners of one unit. Owner-occupied buildings with 10 or fewer units are still exempt, so confirm your building’s status.
What is the good cause eviction Kingston rent increase limit right now?
An increase above 8.15% is presumed unreasonable. That rate comes from the DHCR notice first posted July 16, 2026. It applies until the next yearly notice, due by August 1, 2027.
Can my landlord refuse to renew my lease?
Only with a legal reason, if you’re covered. Your landlord must also meet strict notice rules. If you get a non-renewal notice, call a local legal-aid office quickly.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
New York Renter Guides
- New York Eviction Process
- New York Tenant Rights
- New York Security Deposit Law
- New York Rent Increase Laws
- New York Repairs and Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in New York
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.