SCRHA Fights for Changes to Chula Vista Tenant Protections to Deal with Nuisance Residents

SCRHA Fights for Changes to Chula Vista Tenant Protections to Deal with Nuisance Residents

Yesterday evening, SCRHA joined housing providers and frustrated community members to advocate for changes that would help housing providers and the city address problematic tenants and squatters. Following a dangerous interaction at a rental property that resulted in a stabbing, Councilmember Inzunza asked his colleagues to consider two measures: changes to the Chula Vista Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) to address nuisance behavior, and programs to support housing providers through the eviction process.

SCRHA testified and shared data from its recent Violence and Harassment Survey, highlighting the increase in dangerous behavior at rental properties. At the local level, SCRHA requested a review of provisions in the city’s TPO that go beyond state law and make it difficult for property owners and managers to address nuisances and safety issues promptly. SCRHA and housing providers specifically identified Just Cause protections beginning on the first day of tenancy as an additional hurdle. At the state level, we urged city leaders to work with SCRHA to advocate for changes to laws that prevent the timely removal of nuisance tenants, including squatters, and for improvements to the eviction process.

The council voted unanimously to recommend that city staff explore changes to the TPO and other ways to support housing providers, with proposed amendments to return within 90 days. This vote initiates a review; it does not itself amend the ordinance. Councilmembers emphasized that the focus is nuisance behavior, not situations where tenants have simply fallen on hard times and cannot pay rent. Specifically, the council supported a motion to “direct the City Manager and City Attorney, in coordination with the Police Department, Code Enforcement, and Neighborhood Protection Unit to evaluate opportunities to strengthen the city’s ability to address nuisance tenants, and to support landlords and neighboring units, and to return within 90 days with proposed amendments to the city’s Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance.”

We would like to thank SCRHA members who spoke at last night’s meeting and those who submitted written comments. Property manager Jorge Cabrera assured council that they have done and continue to do everything legally possible to deal with the bad actors, and property owner Don Eklund shared the need for housing providers to have the proper tools to keep properties safe. You can read more here.

SCRHA will remain a key stakeholder in these discussions and will continue to advocate for the betterment of rental housing operations. Sign up for SCRHA Action Alerts to be notified when the council discusses next steps. SCRHA will provide more information in the coming months.