Why Long-Term Renters Are Facing Eviction Without Cause

For years, long-term renters were seen as the ideal tenants—steady, reliable, low-maintenance. But now, many of those same renters are finding themselves blindsided by eviction notices that come with no explanation and no warning. It’s not because they’ve missed payments or violated lease terms. It’s because landlords in many states simply can and increasingly do evict without cause.

The eviction landscape in 2025 is more volatile than ever, and long-term tenants are discovering that loyalty offers little protection. In cities with booming real estate markets and weakened tenant protections, landlords are clearing house to make room for higher-paying tenants, redevelopment, or outright sales.

Here’s why it’s happening now, what’s changed in the legal and economic environment, and what every renter needs to know to avoid becoming the next victim.

The Rise of “No-Fault” Evictions

No-fault or “no-cause” evictions occur when landlords remove tenants without citing any specific lease violation. While some states require a valid reason, others allow landlords to evict as long as proper notice is given, sometimes just 30 days.

This has become increasingly common in high-demand rental markets, where landlords see greater profit potential in flipping a unit, raising rents, or selling the building. Long-term renters who are often paying below-market rent due to older lease agreements become financial liabilities in the eyes of landlords looking to maximize returns.

And with housing demand far outpacing supply in many cities, landlords have little incentive to keep tenants at stable prices when someone else is willing to pay more.

Landlords Want Flexibility At the Tenant’s Expense

For property owners, long-term tenants used to represent security. But now that the housing market has shifted, flexibility is more valuable than consistency. A lease with no end in sight and below-market rent is viewed less as an asset and more as a constraint on profit.

Landlords can legally justify no-fault evictions for reasons that have little to do with the renter, such as:

• Planning to sell the property

• Renovating or converting the unit

• Moving a family member into the space

• Switching from long-term to short-term rentals

While those reasons may sound reasonable on paper, in practice, they can be used to disguise rent increases or to “clear the books” of older tenants in favor of new, higher-paying ones.

COVID-Era Protections Have Expired

During the pandemic, many renters were shielded by emergency eviction moratoriums at the federal, state, or local level. These protections helped keep millions in their homes during a period of economic instability.

But those protections have now lapsed in most areas. And as courts catch up on a backlog of eviction filings, landlords are moving swiftly to act while the legal environment favors property rights over tenant retention.

Tenants who’ve lived in the same unit for 10 or even 20 years are suddenly being told their time is up, with few options and little recourse, especially if they live in a state without strong tenant protections.

Skyrocketing Home Values and Rent Prices

In many cities, property values have doubled or tripled over the past decade. That means landlords see dollar signs when they look at long-term renters locked into pre-inflation leases. A unit rented for $1,200 in 2015 could now fetch $2,000 or more in some markets.

That economic reality is driving many landlords to evict not because tenants did something wrong, but because they didn’t do anything at all, like agreeing to a massive rent increase. When legal caps or lease terms prevent large price jumps, eviction becomes a strategic tool for “resetting” the lease.

This practice, sometimes called “renoviction,” occurs when landlords evict tenants under the pretense of making renovations, only to re-list the same unit at a much higher price.

Rent Control Doesn’t Cover Everyone

Rent control laws are meant to protect tenants from sudden rent hikes or evictions, but they’re far from universal. Most U.S. states don’t have rent control at all, and in the states that do, such as California or New York, the laws often only apply to certain buildings or lease types.

Many long-term tenants mistakenly believe that the length of their stay offers legal protection, but in non-rent-controlled areas, there’s no such safety net. Unless your lease has a specific clause protecting you from no-cause eviction, you could be vulnerable the moment your term ends.

And in cities where “just cause” eviction laws do exist, enforcement is often weak. Landlords can claim allowable reasons like “owner move-in” or “major repairs,” even if those claims are difficult to verify or ultimately untrue.

Older Renters Are Especially at Risk

Long-term tenants tend to be older and more likely to live on fixed incomes. Unfortunately, these renters are also among the most vulnerable when evicted. Relocating after 15 or 20 years in one place is no small task, especially with rising rents and limited availability of senior-friendly housing.

These tenants often lack the digital skills, financial reserves, or mobility to navigate the fast-paced rental market. Many end up in inferior housing or are even at risk of homelessness.

Some landlords know this and count on the tenant’s inability to fight back. Eviction notices often come with an offer of “cash for keys,” where landlords offer a modest payment to encourage voluntary move-out, avoiding a drawn-out court battle.

What Tenants Can Do to Protect Themselves

While eviction laws vary from state to state, there are a few proactive steps tenants can take to reduce their risk and prepare for worst-case scenarios:

1. Understand your lease and local laws.
   Many states have free legal aid or tenants’ rights organizations that can help you interpret your rights.

2. Avoid month-to-month agreements.
   These give landlords the most flexibility to terminate leases quickly. Longer fixed-term leases offer slightly more protection.

3. Document everything.
   Keep records of rent payments, communications with your landlord, and any changes to the property.

4. Get renter’s insurance.
   While it won’t stop an eviction, it may help cover costs in case of sudden displacement or property damage.

5. Join or form a tenant association.
   There’s power in numbers, especially in buildings with multiple long-term renters facing the same issues.

6. Push for local reform.
   Some cities are exploring “right to counsel” laws or expanding just-cause eviction protections. Advocate where you can.

Why “Good Tenants” Are No Longer Safe

The eviction crisis facing long-term renters isn’t about poor behavior or missed payments. It’s about a shifting housing landscape where profit often comes before people. Being a reliable, respectful, rent-paying tenant is no longer a guarantee of stability.

The rise of no-cause evictions highlights how fragile housing security has become, even for those who’ve done everything right. Without stronger protections, many renters will continue to be pushed out of their homes simply because their lease no longer suits the landlord’s business model.

Have you or someone you know been evicted without cause? What protections do you think renters should have in 2025?

Read More:

Evictions Soaring: What Landlords Aren’t Telling You

Navigating Tough Times: A Complete Guide to Eviction Help