Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-126
Retaliatory evictions
Operative Text
(a) No owner, occupant, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation directly or indirectly in control of a building or part thereof shall threaten to or take reprisal against any tenant (who has not committed a breach of the lease or contract of rental) for reporting or complaining, in good faith, of the existence or belief of the existence of any violation of the provisions of this Code or other applicable laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations or for, in good faith, availing himself of any legal remedy shall have committed an offense. Reprisal shall be defined herein as: (1) The institution of eviction proceedings or other legal remedy relating to the tenant's right of possession; or (2) The imposition of an unreasonable rent increase; or (3) The curtailment of services required to be given to the tenant by law or agreement. (b) Receipt of a notice to quit the premises or a substantial rent increase without adequate cause within ninety (90) days after the above defined tenant has made a report or complaint or availed himself of remedies against the owner provided by law shall create a rebuttable presumption that such notice to the said tenant is a reprisal against the tenant for making such report or complaint or for having availed himself of such remedies against the owner as provided by law. (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the landlord may recover possession of the premises if: (1) The tenant is in arrears with respect to rent; or (2) The tenant, his family or guests are committing waste, or a nuisance, or is using the premises for illegal purposes or otherwise in violation of his rental agreement; or (3) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the premises for immediate use as his own abode; or (4) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the premises for the purpose of substantially altering, remodeling, or demolishing the premises; or (5) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the premises for the purpose of immediately terminating for at least six (6) months use of the premises as a previously used; or (6) The complaint or request of subsection (a) relates only to a condition or conditions caused by lack of ordinary care by the tenant or another person or on the property with his consent; or (7) The premises and other property and facilities used by or affecting the use and enjoyment of the tenant were on the date of filing of such complaint or request in substantial compliance with all codes, statutes and ordinances; or (8) The landlord has in good faith contracted to sell the property, and the contract of sale contains a representation by the purchaser corresponding to paragraphs (2), (3) or (4) above; or (9) The landlord is seeking to recover possession the basis of a notice to terminate a periodic tenancy, which notice, was given to the tenant previous to the complaint or request of subsection (a). (d) The defense of retaliatory eviction or reprisal may be raised by the tenant in any eviction action, summary proceeding, or other action or proceeding relating to the right of the tenant to remain in possession of the premises.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-126 prohibits anyone who controls a rental property from retaliating against a tenant who, in good faith, reports a housing code violation or exercises a legal remedy. Retaliation is defined to include initiating eviction proceedings, imposing an unreasonable rent increase, or cutting back legally required services. If a tenant who made a complaint receives a notice to quit or a substantial rent increase within 90 days, the law presumes that action is retaliatory—though that presumption can be rebutted. Landlords retain the right to pursue eviction for legitimate reasons such as nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or a genuine intent to occupy or substantially renovate the unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-126, compliant property operators are careful to ensure that any eviction notice, rent increase, or reduction in services issued after a tenant complaint is grounded in a documented, legitimate reason entirely unrelated to that complaint. Because the ordinance creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation when adverse action follows a complaint within 90 days, operators generally maintain thorough records—such as lease-violation notices, maintenance logs, and financial documentation—that can demonstrate a lawful basis for their actions. The provision does enumerate specific circumstances, including nonpayment of rent, lease violations, and good-faith plans to occupy or renovate, under which recovering possession remains permissible.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 8 § 27-126 gives tenants who have reported housing code violations or exercised legal remedies a protection against eviction, rent hikes, or service reductions taken in response to those actions. If a notice to quit or a substantial rent increase arrives within 90 days of a complaint, the ordinance establishes a rebuttable presumption of retaliation, which can be a meaningful tool in any eviction or possession proceeding. Tenants may raise the defense of retaliatory eviction or reprisal directly in an eviction action or related proceeding, and tenant-rights organizations in the Syracuse area can help explain how this provision interacts with other available remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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