I’m hoping to talk to San Diego renters who have been told to leave their home at any point since May 2023 for reasons that have nothing to do with their behavior. If this sounds familiar, you may have experienced what’s called a no-fault eviction. California law gives property owners a chance to end a long-term tenant’s lease for a number of reasons, including substantial remodel, family move-in, withdrawal from the rental market or to comply with a government order.
I’ve spent much of this year reporting on a glaring loophole that allows property owners to obtain a short-term rental license soon after carrying out a no-fault eviction, in violation of the law. It works like this: Investors buy up multi-family properties, clear out the long-term tenants with no-fault evictions, and post the units on short-term platforms, such as Airbnb.
California law protects eviction records, so journalists like me, and city officials, aren’t able to determine how often this happens. But my reporting has found people often leave before an eviction is ever filed in court. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation or a text message — such as, “My mom is going to be moving into your unit.” And I only ever hear about this happening — property owners obtaining a short-term rental license after carrying out a no-fault eviction — when the tenant takes the time to follow-up, checking Airbnb to see if they can find their old apartment.
My latest story on this topic published today and city officials are considering amendments to address this loophole. Their solution? Tenants have to know when their rights are being violated before the city can act.
At least one housing attorney said it doesn’t go far enough. For more information, take a look at my reporting and feel free to send me an email. I’d love to hear your story, so please fill out the form below if you have one to share and bring the receipts.