Chapter 9.72
MANDATORY RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION OF DISPUTES BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

Sections:

   9.72.010   Purposes and findings.

   9.72.020   Mandatory discussion of rental housing disputes.

   9.72.030   Applicability.

   9.72.040   Dispute resolution process.

   9.72.050   Property registration.

   9.72.060   Retaliation prohibited.

   9.72.070   Notice of tenant's rights.

   9.72.080   Definitions.

   9.72.090   Penalties.

9.72.010 Purposes and findings.

   The city council finds and declares as follows:

   (a)   There is an imbalance between the supply of and demand for rental housing in the city of Palo Alto. The imbalance is the result of both a shortage of rental housing and overwhelming market demand.

   (b)   The imbalance between supply and demand creates an imbalance of bargaining power between landlords and tenants.

   (c)   As a result of these market and bargaining power imbalances, Palo Alto tenants may be unwilling or unable to assert their legal rights and other concerns to their landlords.

   (d)   Communication between landlords and tenants is impaired as a result. Moreover, the Palo Alto rental housing market is less responsive to the needs of tenants because "customer service"is not needed to attract and retain tenants.

   (e)   These impacts are detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of Palo Alto and the surrounding region because the stability, security and quality of housing opportunities are reduced.

   (f)   These impacts can be reduced by improving communications between landlords and tenants through a fair and reliable process for the conciliation and mediation of disputes.

   (g)   Because effective communication must be "two-way,"it is essential that all affected parties be required to participate in mediated dispute resolution.

   (h)   In order to further assure improved communications it is necessary to protect the parties to mediation from retaliation for exercising the rights afforded by this chapter.

   (i)   The city council recognizes that it is important to monitor and improve the processes established in this chapter on a periodic basis.

(Ord. 4728 § 1 (part), 2002)

9.72.020 Mandatory discussion of rental housing disputes.

   All persons (landlords and tenants) residing in, owning, or managing residential rental property to which this chapter applies shall participate in the conciliation and mediation of rental housing disputes as provided in this chapter. The definitions applicable to this chapter appear in Section 9.72.080.

(Ord. 4728 § 1 (part), 2002)

9.72.030 Applicability.

   This chapter shall apply to residential rental property as follows:

   (a)   Any residential rental property containing two or more dwelling units, except two-unit residential rental property in which one of the units is owner-occupied; or

   (b)   Any residential rental property that is owned by a person or legal entity that owns two or more residential rental properties within the city.

(Ord. 4728 § 1 (part), 2002)