Photo courtesy of San Jose Spotlight

In 2016, the City Auditor released a report with 19 recommendations to improve the city’s rent stabilization program for landlords and tenants. One of the final recommendations to be completed is creating a strategic plan that would outline the goals and outcomes with metrics that would determine the program’s efficiency. The initial draft in 2021 generated significant feedback from the CA Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). Various stakeholder meetings were held with landlords, tenants, and mobile homeowners. With the input incorporated, staff brought the new draft back to HCD in late 2023, who requested more changes be made to address concerns by housing providers. In April of this year, staff presented the draft to the Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee. They requested that the incoming Housing Director review and make any necessary changes. 

The plan has three strategic goals: Family Housing Stabilization, Unit Preservation, and Outreach and Engagement, which will guide the rent stabilization program over the next three years and cover the implementation of 5 ordinances: 

• Apartment Rent Ordinance (ARO): Limits rent increases to 5%
• Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO): regulates evictions and provides tenant relocation assistance
• Ellis Act Ordinance (EAO): Regulates the removal of housing units from the market
• Mobilehome Rental Ordinance (MRO): Limits space rent increases
• Housing Payment Equality Ordinance (HPEO): Prevents discrimination based on income source  

Each goal has a set of strategies that are short or long-term. Notable strategies include: 

• Determine what resources and procedures are needed to identify and track termination notices and notices to pay, voluntary vacancies, and unlawful detainer proceedings. 
• Evaluate the impact on housing providers and tenants due to limits on utility charges. 
• Establish standing meetings with housing providers to discuss a broad range of support topics and pursue collaborative initiatives. 
• Collaborate with the State to establish that San José can educate the public about and enforce the California Tenant Protection Act, also known as Assembly Bill 1482. Assess whether desired enforcement authority can be granted administratively or if legislation is needed. 

With the new housing director’s modifications, the Rent Stabilization Program Strategic Plan finally moved forward from CED on August 26. The council will vote on it on September 17th, which will finally close out the 2016 Auditor’s report.