The Housing Committee advanced the Safe Healthy Homes bills on March 30, 2026, despite serious concerns about transparency, undisclosed amendments, and limited opportunity for meaningful public participation.
Bills 250329 (Right to Repairs) and 250330 (Right to Safety) are now heading to full City Council. The earliest vote is April 16, leaving a short window for housing providers to respond.
What happened:
• The bills were pushed forward through a process that raises serious concerns about violations of open meeting and public participation laws
• Amendments were not clearly disclosed before the vote
• Meaningful public input was limited or excluded
What these bills do in practical terms:
• Require “good cause” to terminate or not renew a lease, eliminating your ability to decide whether to continue a tenancy at the end of a lease
• Prevent you from collecting rent if your license lapses, even due to city delays, and may require refunds
• Create automatic liability of $1,000 to $3,000 per violation
• Trigger presumptions that can force full rent repayment
• Expand inspections across all rental units
Why this matters:
These bills do not simply regulate housing. They fundamentally change your rights as a property owner.
• The “good cause” requirement forces ongoing landlord tenant relationships, even when a lease naturally ends
• They rewrite lease agreements that are already in place, stripping out terms you legally negotiated
• They shift control away from property owners and expose you to significant legal and financial risk regardless of intent
These are not minor policy changes. They raise serious constitutional law concerns, including interference with existing contracts, loss of property rights without compensation, and lack of due process.
For many small housing providers, this level of risk and uncertainty is not sustainable. The likely result is forced exit from the market, reduced housing supply, and negative impacts on the very communities that depend on this housing.
What you can do:
• Show up on April 16, visibility matters
• Contact your Councilmember and demand transparency, lawful process, and real public input
• Share this with other housing providers
More updates coming. Stay tuned.