Concord City Council votes to prevent evictions and rent increases
Concord, Calif. (March 26, 2020) – The Concord City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to enact a temporary moratorium on evictions and rent increases, for both residential and commercial properties, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium is in effect from March 25 through May 31, which is concurrent with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-28-20, and would be automatically extended if the Governor extends his order. The Ordinance does the following:
- Protects tenants against evictions for failure to pay rent, and establishes a 90-day repayment window for each month of overdue rent, beginning with the first day following the lifting of the moratorium;
- Protects tenants against being charged late fees or other penalties for failure to pay rent and/or utilities;
- Protects most tenants against rent increases; and
- Encourages protections for landlords by urging financial institutions and utilities to freeze any foreclosure or utility shut-offs
More details about the moratorium are available at: www.cityofconcord.org/
Additionally, the City is establishing a mediation/advocacy program for tenants whose landlords do not comply with the temporary eviction and rent moratorium.
These steps are part of Concord’s comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect vulnerable members of the community. Last week, the City Council established a program to house 10 currently unsheltered families or individuals who would be at high risk of serious complications if they were they to get sick with COVID-19. The program has successfully housed 17 people, 11 are in families and five are individuals.
To learn more about the City’s efforts, please visit the City’s COVID-19 web page: www.cityofconcord.org/COVID19.