A. If, within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of a notice of an increase in rent, a request for mediation is filed by a tenant of a dwelling unit subject to the rent increase, a mediation session shall be set prior to the effective date of such rent increase.
B. No rent increase shall be invalid or otherwise questioned for failure to reach agreement regarding the increase at a mediation session.
C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any rent increase established by a written lease.
('65 Code, § 32-4)
D. No rent increase subject to mediation pursuant to Subsections A. through C. of this Section shall be effective unless or until the landlord or the landlord's duly authorized agent meets in good faith with the tenant requesting mediation at such session. Failure to pay any increase in rent imposed in violation of the provisions of this Section shall not be grounds for any unlawful detainer action, and if such action is instituted, the tenant may assert this Section in defense thereto. ('65 Code, § 32-5)
(Ord. No. 87-010 § 1; Ord. No. 2019-010 § 1)