Demonstrators Speak Out Against Changes To Concord Rental Ordinance

CONCORD, CA — Concord renters, housing justice advocates and community organizations planned to rally Tuesday outside Concord City Hall before the start of Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Concord City Council members were expected to consider two amendments to the city's Residential Tenant Protection Program:

• Amend the annual allowable rent increase (rent increase cap) for multifamily and mobile-home units subject to the rent stabilization regulations from the current regulatory cap of 60 percent of CPI or 3 percent, whichever is lesser, to a flat maximum annual increase of 5 percent;
• Apply just cause for eviction regulations to rented single-family homes and rented condominiums in cases where one landlord owns three or more of these unit types in Concord; landlords that own two or fewer rented homes would be exempt from the just cause regulations. The current regulations apply to all rented single-family homes and rented condominiums.

Demonstrators said the changes would exempt single-family homes and condos from eviction protections—putting up to 43 percent of Concord renters at risk—and raise the rent cap, which they said would make housing even more unaffordable. They planned to speak out against this perceived manipulation of council members and demand that city leaders stand with tenants.

The demonstrators accused the California Apartment Association and corporate landlords of woring to dismantle tenant protections adopted under an ordinance passed by Concord City Council in April 2024.

Under the Residential Tenant Protection Program that took effect April 19, 2024, “just cause” eviction protections increased, the city's rent registry expanded, and a rent stabilization program was established. The city's stated goal was to stabilize the community and minimize the displacement of residents while also allowing property owners to make a fair return on their investments.

Demonstrators said, however, that a political action committee for the CAA sponsored a series of attack ads against elected officials who supported the original tenant protection ordinance. Demonstrators also alleged that mailers were sent to voters to put pressure on City Council members to weaken the ordinance.

"After a failed referendum effort, leadership from Vasona Management, Concord’s largest landlord, financed the campaign of Concord’s newest elected city council member: Pablo Benavente," demonstrators said Tuesday in a statement sent to members of the media. "Pablo Benavente is now leading the charge to weaken the rent stabilization and just cause ordinance."

If the Council decides to move forward with the draft ordinance, a second reading of the ordinance would be set for April 22. Thirty days after that, the amended ordinance would become effective.

In addition to the amendments, the City Council suspended the rent registry requirement for rented single-family homes and condominiums until further notice.

RELATED:

• City Council To Review Tenant Protection Ordinance —Again
• Concord City Council Moves Forward With Rent Stabilization Ordinance
• Concord Citizens File Referendum Petition