...Title
Urgency Ordinance and Companion Ordinance for Temporary Rent Freeze on all new Rent Increases for Rent Stabilized Apartments and Mobile Homes.
...Recommendations
(a) Adopt an urgency ordinance that establishes a moratorium on rent increases for tenants residing in rent stabilized apartments and mobilehome owners and mobilehome residents residing in mobilehomes subject to rent control. Specifically, the ordinance would:
(1) Invoke the urgency provisions in the City Charter, as an emergency measure for immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, to temporarily prohibit the eviction of a tenant for nonpayment of rent, if that tenant meets the criteria listed in the ordinance regarding COVID-19;
(2) Prohibit rent increases through December 31, 2020;
(3) Apply the moratorium to rent increases that went into effect on or after April 1, 2020;
(4) Provide that a landlord and tenant, mobilehome resident, or mobilehome owner can enter into a voluntary short-term agreement, without changing other terms of the rental contract, to temporarily reduce the rent through the term of the Ordinance, or shorter period as agreed-upon by the parties;
(5) Deny tenant service reduction claims related to temporary closure or elimination of recreational common area amenities to comply with County or State public health orders related to COVID-19;
(6) Suspend of late fees for unpaid Apartment Rent Ordinance Program fees; and
(7) Waive building/repair maintenance permit fees for rental properties with 20 or fewer units.
PLEASE NOTE: APPROVAL OF THIS URGENCY ORDINANCE REQUIRES 8 OR MORE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES (2/3)
(b) Approve an ordinance that establishes a moratorium on rent increases for tenants residing in rent stabilized apartments and mobilehome owners and mobilehome residents residing in mobilehomes subject to rent control. Specifically, the ordinance would:
(1) Prohibit rent increases through December 31, 2020;
(2) Apply the moratorium to rent increases that went into effect on or after April 1, 2020;
(3) Provide that a landlord and tenant, mobilehome resident, or mobilehome owner can enter into a voluntary short-term agreement, without changing other terms of the rental contract, to temporarily reduce the rent through the term of the Ordinance, or shorter period as agreed-upon
by the parties;
(4) Deny tenant service reduction claims related to temporary closure or elimination of recreational common area amenities to comply with County or State public health orders related to COVID-19;
(5) Suspend of late fees for unpaid Apartment Rent Ordinance Program fees; and
(6) Waive building/repair maintenance permit fees for rental properties with 20 or fewer units.
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-008, General Procedure and Policy Making resulting in no changes to the physical environment. (Housing)
[Rules Committee referral 4/15/20 - Item A.1.a]