Dwellings

Episode 26: Renting Has Its Rights

Episode Summary

Renting Has its Rights is a campaign to educate the public on the ordinances that cover over 20,000 people in San José. Rachel and Vanessa give us a rundown of the campaign and some frequently asked questions the Rent Stabilization Team has answers to. Rachel will talk to us about what to expect in our push to educate tenants and landlords about our 4 biggest ordinances and the amazing team behind the scenes. At the end, we have frequently asked questions section related to the San Jose Housing Ordinances. This is a widespread effort from the Housing Department to educate and inform the public through billboards, bus ads, social media, and our website. Our website is a great place to start if you want to learn more about Renting Has Its Rights, sanjoseca.gov/rentalrights.

Episode Notes

• To learn more about Renting Has Its Rights, please visit sanjoseca.gov/rentalrights. 
• To learn more about San José Housing Ordinances, please visit - Housing Ordinances
• Visit our Eviction Process Page to learn about resources and steps involved during the eviction process.
• Petition - Petitions are written request to appeal actions taken by landlords or tenants.
• Apartment Rent Ordinance(ARO) - Landlords may increase rent one time in a 12-month period, and the increase may be up to 5%. The City has a petition process in place to resolve landlord/tenant disputes regarding rent increases.
• Tenant Protection Ordinance(TPO) - There are 13 “just causes” for which landlords may evict tenants. When a landlord notifies a tenant of their intent to terminate a lease, the landlord must cite one of the 13 just causes, and must provide the City with a copy of the notice within three days.
• Ellis Act Ordinance(EAO) - When landlords remove an apartment from the rental market under the Ellis Act, they must provide tenants with 6-12 months notice, and they must provide tenants with relocation benefits.
• Mobilehome Ordinance(MHRO) - Mobilehome park owners may increase the rent for mobilehome spaces once a year. A formula is used to determine rent increases, which are at least 3% but not more than 7%.