The Glendale City Council approved a tenant-relocation assistance program this week that includes a revised fee schedule based on amendments from the California Apartment Association.
Thanks to CAA’s advocacy work, the Glendale council incorporated a tenant’s income into its schedule for calculating relocation fees. Previously, the fee schedule was based solely on a renter’s length of tenancy.
Under the revised ordinance, which was approved on a 3-0 vote Tuesday, relocation fees may apply to tenants in pre-1995 buildings if they choose to leave after receiving a rent increase over 7 percent.
The formula for the fees is as follows:
- For tenants in buildings with three to four dwelling units, the product of three times the actual rent.
- For rental units located on a parcel containing five or more dwelling units, the product of three times the amount of the rent after the rent increase.
- When the overall household income is equal to or less than the area median income for Los Angeles County, plus 30 percent of the AMI, the tenant shall receive relocation fees based on length of occupancy on the following schedule:
- Three to four years, four times the amount of the rent increase.
- Four to five years, five times the amount of the rent increase
- Five or more years, six times the amount of the rent increase.
The ordinance also requires an owner to offer a one-year written lease to a prospective tenant. Current tenants in good standing must be given a 90-day lease renewal notice that also includes a one-year lease term. CAA succeeded in reducing this renewal notice term from 120 days.
Under both circumstances, a tenant can reject a one-year lease and enter into a shorter lease period agreed upon by the tenant and owner.