SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- In a Tuesday night vote, the San Diego City Council passed a proposed ordinance that would give renters more protection in the first reading of the possible new law.
The first-round vote was 8-1 in favor of the ordinance, which is seen a step forward in tackling the homelessness crisis, according to City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera.
In May, the City Council will meet for a second round of voting.
There were dozens of people who spoke for and against the ordinance. Barbara Pinto spoke in favor of it.
“So, it’s been very difficult. I’d rented for years and years and years and then to go pay these astronomical rents. I knew I was going to really have some challenges,” Pinto said.
Pinto is 77 years old. Like a lot of San Diegans, she says keeping up with rising rent in San Diego is incredibly difficult.
“My husband had a massive heart attack in 2018 and died,” Pinto said. “After his heart attack, I had deal with a reality of living on one social security check and my modest retirement income. I retired from the San Diego Unified School District after 35 years.”
Pinto and others came to City Hall to support the proposed ordinance, which would give more protection to renters for evictions as long as they pay their rent and honor their lease.
Supporters say it would also make it more difficult for no-fault evictions. An example is when a landlord wants a tenant out to do a major remodel or needs to move into the unit.
“This really a critical measure and ensuring San Diegans stable housing,” said Rachel Samha, Housing Program Manager for PATH San Diego.
The ordinance would give tenant protections beginning on day 1 of the lease. Right now, it's 12 months. No-fault evictions are entitled to 2 or 3 months of relocation help; currently it's one month. Owners would also have to give more notice about renovations and show permits for a remodel.
There were some local landlords who were opposed to the possible new law.
“We don’t evict our tenants to intentionally put them on the street. We don’t want that. We provide housing, but we also have expenses. And we need to pay our expenses, otherwise we don’t have housing for them,” said property owner Joel Tubao.
“If they adopt this, all landlords including myself -- who’s very modest with increases and very reserved -- I let tenants go for years who are good … I will start raising at that minimum every year and I think they're going to find everyone else will do the same,” landlord Martin Chevalier added.
Prior to the vote, Samha said this would be a win for tenants and help with the homelessness crisis.
“So just ensuring that tenants are paying their rent on time, that are rule abiding can stay in their housing. This is what this is going to ensure,” Samha said.
“Well, it would strengthen us in that we have some rights. We feel we have none. That we feel that the advantages are for the landlord. They’re not for us,” Pinto said.
Elo-Rivera’s office tells ABC 10News that this could go into effect as soon as June.
