Housing commissioners, renters urge council to investigate displacement by property managers and add a renter seat

During oral communications on July 15, two speakers related personal experiences of rental displacement and asked the council to investigate practices by large property management firms and to add a designated renter seat on the city’s Housing Commission.

Yui He (identified in the meeting as Yu Yu), who said she serves as vice chair of the Housing Commission but was speaking for herself, said a corporate property manager raised her rent after previous increases and delayed or ignored her request for rent relief. She described that the day after she gave notice to move, her unit was listed for less than the amount she had been offered, and she said the pattern is common among friends who have been displaced.

Connie Cunningham, chair of the Housing Commission (speaking for herself), supported Yui He’s request and said He brought renter perspectives to commission work. Both speakers asked the council to investigate management practices that lead to displacement and to create a designated renter seat on the Housing Commission to ensure consistent renter representation; they noted renters make up about 40 percent of Cupertino’s population.

Council did not take formal action during the meeting but was asked to investigate the alleged management practices and to consider the proposal to add a renter seat. Council members acknowledged the comments and staff follow‑up was requested.