SAN MATEO (KRON) — The rising cost of living in San Mateo is leading to more and more tenants losing their homes simply because they cannot afford their rent.

Now, the city is proposing an emergency ordinance that requires landlords to pay tenants relocation assistance when there are “no cause” evictions.

KRON’s Alecia Reid was at the meeting Monday night with some very unhappy landlords.

The City Council chamber was completely packed. There were even people standing outside in the overflow room.

And it was mostly landlords that were at the special meeting that has to do with an emergency ordinance that would make it mandatory for landlords to pay relocation expenses for no-fault evictions.

The expenses could be up to six months worth of rent. At the current rate, that could be up to $30,000.

Rent in San Mateo county increased dramatically over the last eight years, and within the last four, those numbers have skyrocketed.

This ordinance has been a conversation for months at city council meetings.

This wouldn’t apply to every apartment. Landlords can increase rent up to 10 percent, and have no obligation to pay relocation assistance. And it does not apply to government-owned housing or rent-controlled apartments built before 1994.

Landlords at the meeting said they are passionate about showing up in huge numbers.

They said if this ordinance is approved, small landlords will suffer.

In order for the ordinance to pass, it needs four-out-of-five of the city council members to vote yes.

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