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Legal Alert
December 5, 2023

New York Affordable Housing Leases Now Allow Termination for Violent Acts by Tenants

Authors and Contacts

Linnea Spagnoletti

Michael A. Discenza

Melanie C. Marotto

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The New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) and its fellow partners successfully lobbied with the NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation to modify its standard Housing Trust Fund lease. Section 20 of the revised lease now provides that tenants engaging in “any physical, violent act against building, employees, staff, or tenants” can constitute good cause for landlords to terminate such tenant’s lease.

In response to numerous serious incidents occurring on affordable housing properties in the last few years, landlords of affordable housing projects have been advocating for additional remedies to be able to ensure safe communities for tenants. The terms and provisions of Housing Trust Fund leases, tenant conduct constituting “good cause” for evictions, and the tenant selection criteria and process for HTF-assisted units are highly regulated topics at both the federal and state level.

Harris Beach’s Affordable Housing team is monitoring this development and related matters. If you have any question on compliance with such regulations, please reach out to our affordable housing team: Michael E. Condon at (585) 419-8603 and mcondon@harrisbeachmurtha.com; Melanie C. Marotto at (716) 200-5230 and mmarotto@harrisbeachmurtha.com; Michael A Discenza at (212) 912-3605 and mdiscenza@harrisbeachmurtha.com; or Linnea B. Spagnoletti at (585) 419-8623 and lspagnoletti@harrisbeachmurtha.com.

This alert does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on specific matters.

Harris Beach has offices throughout New York State, including Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse and White Plains, as well as New Haven, Connecticut, Washington, D.C. and Newark, New

Authors and Contacts

Michael-Discenza

Michael A. Discenza

Member
Melanie Marotto

Melanie C. Marotto

Member
Linnea Spagnoletti, Commercial Real Estate attorney

Linnea Spagnoletti

Associate

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Affordable Housing
Real Estate Developers
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Insights

New York Affordable Housing Leases Now Allow Termination for Violent Acts by Tenants

Capabilities
People
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
Legal Alert
December 5, 2023

New York Affordable Housing Leases Now Allow Termination for Violent Acts by Tenants

Insight

The New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) and its fellow partners successfully lobbied with the NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation to modify its standard Housing Trust Fund lease. Section 20 of the revised lease now provides that tenants engaging in “any physical, violent act against building, employees, staff, or tenants” can constitute good cause for landlords to terminate such tenant’s lease.

In response to numerous serious incidents occurring on affordable housing properties in the last few years, landlords of affordable housing projects have been advocating for additional remedies to be able to ensure safe communities for tenants. The terms and provisions of Housing Trust Fund leases, tenant conduct constituting “good cause” for evictions, and the tenant selection criteria and process for HTF-assisted units are highly regulated topics at both the federal and state level.

Harris Beach’s Affordable Housing team is monitoring this development and related matters. If you have any question on compliance with such regulations, please reach out to our affordable housing team: Michael E. Condon at (585) 419-8603 and mcondon@harrisbeachmurtha.com; Melanie C. Marotto at (716) 200-5230 and mmarotto@harrisbeachmurtha.com; Michael A Discenza at (212) 912-3605 and mdiscenza@harrisbeachmurtha.com; or Linnea B. Spagnoletti at (585) 419-8623 and lspagnoletti@harrisbeachmurtha.com.

This alert does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on specific matters.

Harris Beach has offices throughout New York State, including Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse and White Plains, as well as New Haven, Connecticut, Washington, D.C. and Newark, New

Authors

Michael A. Discenza

Member
(212) 912-3605
mdiscenza@harrisbeachmurtha.com

Melanie C. Marotto

Member
(716) 200-5230
mmarotto@harrisbeachmurtha.com

Linnea Spagnoletti

Associate
(585) 419-8623
lspagnoletti@harrisbeachmurtha.com
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. © 2026 Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC
Content current as of September 12, 2026 7:25 am