Committee advances Tenant Protection Ordinance to strengthen relocation and anti-harassment rules

On Dec. 15 the Land Use & Transportation Committee advanced an ordinance intended to reduce tenant displacement tied to demolition, Ellis Act withdrawals and certain buyout agreements.

Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen, the ordinance's author, said the Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) focuses on stabilizing tenants and communities in the face of state law changes such as SB 330 (the Housing Crisis Act). "This legislation provides tenants with essential tools to defend against displacement and ensure that they are able to stay in their homes and communities," Chen said.

The ordinance would require property owners seeking demolition permits to replace all demolished units; bar demolition permits for five years if a tenant vacated due to harassment or under an improper buyout (subject to conditions); expand relocation assistance to affected occupants including extra protections for lower-income tenants; modify definitions and conditional-use criteria related to demolition; and require additional disclosures in notice of intent under the Ellis Act.

Supporters at public comment included tenant-advocacy organizations, labor unions and neighborhood groups who said the measure closes loopholes that allow landlords to use harassment or undisclosed buyouts to remove tenants without providing relocation assistance. PJ Eugenio of Tom Kent and Joseph Smook of the Reproductive Health (Rep) Coalition urged the committee to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation.

Vice Chair Chen moved to recommend the ordinance as a committee report; the committee recorded three ayes and the item will proceed to the Board.