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Supervisors expand no-fault eviction protections to educators and families during school year
Summary
The board unanimously passed an ordinance extending restrictions on certain no-fault evictions during the school year to households with children and to school employees, and expanding covered eviction types to include condominium conversions, removal of rental units and substantial rehabilitation.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 5 to strengthen protections against certain no-fault evictions for families with children and for school employees during the academic year.
The ordinance expands a 2009 law that restricted owner-move-in evictions during the school year. Under the newly adopted measure, landlords may not use specified no-fault eviction grounds — including owner move-in, condominium conversion, removal of rental units, capital improvements and substantial rehabilitation — during the school year when a child under 18 or a person who works at a San Francisco school resides in the unit and the tenant has lived there at least 12 months.
Sponsor Supervisor David Campos said the expansion was intended to reduce displacement among students and school staff and to limit disruption to children’s education. “This ordinance will help mitigate the impact of displacement on educators and families with children,” Campos said on the floor. The measure also broadens the definition of “educator” to include preschool and early-childhood providers, paraprofessionals, custodial and cafeteria staff, nurses, counselors and other school employees, and it covers employees at both public and private schools.
Supporters, including several supervisors who cited classroom staffing shortages and teacher turnover, argued the policy is necessary amid rising rents and housing instability. Opponents and some supervisors expressed concern that the measure could unintentionally discourage some landlords from renting to educators; sponsors noted California law already bans discrimination against families with children and that the city attorney may prosecute unlawful discrimination.
The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading. Sponsors said they will continue working on related housing and affordability measures that address teacher recruitment and retention and broader housing needs for low- and middle-income workers.
