California bill expands eviction protections and rent caps

A California lawmaker wants to keep tenants from becoming homeless by shoring up a law that limits rent increases and requires landlords to provide “just cause” for evictions.

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Sen. María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, on Friday announced a measure that would strengthen a 2019 bill capping rent hikes at 10% and preventing landlords from evicting tenants without a legal reason.

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Durazo said during a Los Angeles news conference that Senate Bill 567 would “limit the rent increases and make them reasonable and humane” and would “close the loopholes for landlords to evict people” in addition to adding enforcement mechanisms.

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“We need to prevent homelessness, prevent people from being kicked out on the streets,” Durazo said. “That’s our goal with SB 567. This is an urgent humanitarian crisis in our communities.”

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Her measure would add to Assembly Bill 1482, which former Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, authored four years ago. Chiu’s measure capped rent increases at 5% plus an inflation rate set by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum of 10%.

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It also laid out an eviction framework that calls for landlords to provide reasons for evicting tenants. Renters can be evicted for “at fault” reasons, such as lease violations, or “no fault” causes.

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Legally allowable “no fault” evictions include those caused by significant renovations, removing units from the rental market or landlords moving themselves or family members into their housing.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom backed Chiu’s bill, which tenant advocates championed but real estate interests opposed.

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Durazo’s measure would change existing law by capping rent increases at the amount set by the CPI, according to a bill summary. It would also lower the maximum threshold from 10% to 5%.

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Her bill would also require landlords to allow tenants to return after significant renovations and would prompt them to disclose the type of repairs being made. Tenants could not be evicted unless the renovations would take at least 60 days and would be necessary for health and safety reasons.

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A landlord evicting a tenant to occupy the unit or to rent the housing to a relative must facilitate the move-in within three months. The landlord or relative also must live in the unit for at least three years, to prevent the unit from being put back on the market at a higher price.

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Durazo’s bill would also expand existing protections to include tenants in single-family homes and condos, as well as mobile home owners, all of whom are currently excluded.

This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 11:32 am.