On July 29, 2026, Chemung County hosted New York State’s first Landlord–Tenant Hub Court, a special tribunal set up to bring all residential eviction cases from the county’s Town and Village Courts together to handle them in one section of the Elmira City Court. The Landlord–Tenant Hub Court, which was announced by Administrative Judge Eugene D. Faughnan of the Sixth Judicial District, aims at removing the long-standing obstacles that have prevented low-income tenants in rural areas from having access to adequate legal representation or from benefiting from regular courtroom procedures.
The Hub Court was set up as a direct result of the findings of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, a body that had identified difficulties concerning fairness in eviction proceedings in rural areas. The Commission noted among the problems the geographic obstacles caused by the 14 widely scattered municipalities in Chemung County, the limited availability of lawyers, and the great variation in procedures between the different local courts. These factors made it difficult for tenants, particularly those who were unable to travel or to obtain legal representation, to take an active part in their own cases. To address this concern, the Commission suggested that the housing courts should be consolidated to increase access to legal representation and to achieve more consistent results.
How the Hub Court Works
The local filing procedure will not be abolished by the Chemung County Hub Court Part (CCHCP); the Town and Village Courts will keep on accepting eviction petitions, charging the relevant fees, and arranging the initial appearances on a common Hub calendar. The hearings themselves, though, will be held centrally at the Elmira City Court. To reduce delays and to assist both tenants and landlords, the Part makes use of virtual-appearance technology and centralized case management, amongst other factors. The calendars are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each term.
Closing the Representation Gap
The most important aspect of the Hub Court is the effect it has on tenant representation. Staffing limitations and the significant distance between multiple local courts previously prohibited Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY), the main eviction defense provider, from representing all eligible tenants. But the new centralized system will allow LAWNY to represent all who qualify.
Next Steps
The Sixth Judicial District is currently planning to set up more Hub Courts. A second Landlord–Tenant Hub Court in Otsego County, located at the Oneonta City Court, is aimed at starting work in early 2027, with more expansions intended in the years to come.
If you have any questions, Lippes Mathias LLP attorney Mina Mirzaie-Frodey may be contacted regarding matters related to this topic and more at mmirzaie@lippes.com
