Invalid Terminations of Tenancy and
Permanent Relocation Payments
Rent Ordinance update and clarification
September 15, 2026
Bill Chapin, Rent Program Director
1 Terminations of Tenancy – Current Policy
2 • Landlords may only terminate a tenancy based on certain allowable grounds
• Two categories:
Type Examples Relocation Payment
Required?
“For Cause” Failure to pay rent, breach of lease No
“No Fault” Owner move-in, withdrawal of rental unit
from rental market (Ellis Act) Yes
Invalid Terminations of Tenancy
3 • What if a landlord serves tenant with an invalid notice, i.e. based on “no cause”?
– Ordinance updates adopted in April 2026 require the landlord to offer the rental unit back to the tenant at the same rent • What if tenant has already responded to the invalid notice and found new, permanent housing?
– Longstanding Rent Program policy is landlord owes tenant a Permanent Relocation Payment, but this is not expressly stated in Rent Ordinance
Ordinance Updates
4 Proposed updates clarify what a landlord must do to address an invalid notice of termination of tenancy:
If the tenant has … The landlord must …
Taken no action Immediately rescind the invalid notice
Vacated the rental unit but
not found new housing
1. Immediately rescind the invalid notice
2. Offer the unit back to the tenant at same rent
Found new, permanent
housing
1. Immediately rescind the invalid notice
2. Provide a Permanent Relocation Payment
Staff Recommendation
5 Introduce the proposed ordinance to update and clarify the City’s eviction protections