Committee advances 60-day emergency ban on rent increases during COVID-19

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee on a 3-0 vote recommended an emergency ordinance that would temporarily prohibit landlords from imposing rent increases that would otherwise be permitted under the city Administrative Code during the COVID-19 emergency.

Chair Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who introduced the measure, said the ordinance would last 60 days and would apply to increases allowed under Chapter 30 37 of the Administrative Code as well as to utility and capital improvement pass-throughs. Peskin thanked co-sponsors Supervisors Matt Haney, Myrna Melgar, and others named in the discussion and noted Robert Collins of the Rent Stabilization Board was on the call.

Supervisor Dean Preston said he supported the ordinance as a narrowly targeted step to prevent landlords "seizing this opportunity" to push rent increases that tenants cannot afford during the crisis. Vice Chair Supervisor Asha Safaii also voiced support and asked to be added as a co-sponsor, saying many tenants have asked for rent relief or a temporary rent "vacation." No members of the public successfully made comments on this item.

Chair Peskin moved to forward the item to the full Board as a committee report with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded aye votes from Supervisors Preston, Safaii and Peskin.

Next steps: the ordinance will be forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration. The committee's action was a recommendation; any final ordinance would require Board approval.