Title
Staff Report for an Ordinance Adding a Tenant Relocation Assistance Program to the City of San Leandro Municipal Code to Require the Payment of Tenant Relocation Assistance for Landlord-Caused Terminations of Tenancy and to Require Additional Notice Prior to Termination of Tenancy
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
During the process to amend the City's Rent Review Ordinance, which the City Council adopted in February 2016, the City Council received public input on tenant displacement due to rising rents. The City Council referred the issue to the City Council Rules Committee to guide the development of a tenant relocation assistance program. Since April 2016, the City Council's Rules Committee has met five times to provide direction to staff, and seek public input. At its May 22, 2017 meeting, the Rules Committee directed staff to bring the proposed Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance forward for City Council consideration.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance adding Chapter 4.37 "Tenant Relocation Assistance" to the San Leandro Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
An impetus for the City Council to create a tenant relocation assistance program was to protect San Leandro renters, particularly long-term renters, from eviction based on factors beyond their control such as substantial rent increases and landlords moving their families into rental units.
Below are notable features of the proposed Ordinance based on the City Council's Rules Committee comments and public input over the last 12 months.
I. Eligibility
A. Tenants are entitled to relocation assistance if the termination of tenancy is due to "landlord-caused termination." The Ordinance defines a "landlord-caused termination" as any landlord-caused action, including a rent increase of more than 15% greater than the base rent during a twelve month period and a tenant elects to not remain" in his/her unit. Exceptions to "landlord-caused terminati...
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