Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Hansen presented his Tenant Protection and Relief Act to members attending the CAA Sacramento Valley luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

The proposed ordinance would establish a mediation process allowing tenants the option to dispute annual rent increases exceeding 6 percent. It also would require landlords to offer tenants the option of an 18-month lease.

Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Hansen addresses CAA Sacramento Valley members.

Hansen explained that City Councilmen Eric Guerra and Rick Jennings serve as co-authors of the proposal. Like Hansen, they consider the proposal a reasonable alternative to rent control and just-cause tenancy termination restrictions. All three want to protect tenants from arbitrary evictions, offer long-term relief from excessive rent increases, and find ways to fund and expedite construction of much-needed affordable housing.

“We can’t sit back and do nothing,” said Vice Mayor Hansen. He warned CAA members that failing to pass some form of tenant protection would make it more difficult to persuade voters to oppose a rent control ballot measure. Such an initiative recently qualified for the March 2020 city ballot.

Hansen’s proposed ordinance is on the agenda of the City Council’s Law and Legislation Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 23. If approved by the committee, the City Council probably would consider the proposal after the Nov. 6 election.

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