Commission discusses tenant-notification, mailings and permit checkboxes to reduce displacement during seismic retrofits

Housing Inspection Services presented tenant concerns tied to soft-story seismic retrofits, noting some tenants fear relocation or displacement when owners claim relocation is necessary.

Commissioner Walker and others described community reports of questionable relocation practices. DBI staff and deputy director proposed three initial actions: work with community groups to establish a process to verify whether relocation is truly needed for a specific building; work with tenant representatives and City Attorney—9s Office where an owner may have misrepresented relocation need; and help community groups mail targeted notices to tenants in affected buildings.

Commissioner Gilman suggested requiring that owner notices include DBI outreach numbers, rent-board contact information and advocacy organizations so tenants could get help. She also proposed starting with seismic upgrades and, if successful, broadening the notice practice to other project types. Commissioner Lee suggested requiring a checkbox or signed affidavit with permit applications to indicate whether relocation will be required so DBI can prioritize review and detect misrepresentations.

Deputy City Attorney Rob Capla said he did not "notice offhand any problems" with the suggested notice improvements but would need to review existing legal notice provisions. DBI staff said they had anecdotal reports of displacement but had not yet seen proof of mass wrongful evictions; commissioners asked community groups to provide specific cases for follow-up.

No formal regulatory change was adopted; commissioners asked staff to continue vetting the options, coordinate with tenant advocates and explore whether some measures could be implemented administratively or would require legislation.