The City of San Rafael requires property owners to provide assistance to low-income tenants who are forced to permanently move or relocate due to planned property development, property improvements and/or residential unit renovation. To be eligible, a tenant’s household income must meet the low-income criteria outlined in the income schedule published by the Marin Housing Authority*.
The property owner must give the affected tenant a written notice at least sixty (60) days before they need to vacate the unit. The notice must include:
- The following statement: “The City of San Rafael requires property owners to provide certain assistance to low-income tenants of record who are forced to permanently move or relocate because of planned property development, property improvements and/or residential unit renovation. You are eligible to receive this assistance if you can demonstrate that your household qualifies as low-income, as defined in the attached income schedule published by the Marin County Housing Authority. To qualify for relocation assistance you must complete, sign and return the attached income verification form confirming that you meet the income limits for a low-income household. You must return this income verification form to the property owner no later than two weeks following the date you receive this notice.”
- The most current Marin County median family income schedule published by the Marin Housing Authority, specifying the range of household size and the maximum annual household income for each household size to qualify as low-income.
- An income certification form or affidavit to be completed and submitted by the tenant of record. To verify annual household income, the property owner may request that the tenant of record submit additional supporting documentation such as a copy of the latest, filed, income tax return.
The tenant should complete, sign, and return the income verification form to the property owner no later than two weeks following the date they received the notice.
At least 30 days before the tenant must vacate the unit, the owner must provide to the tenant:
- Referral to the Marin Housing Authority for finding low-income rental housing.
- Payment equal to two (2) times the current monthly rent of the unit being vacated. The payment is made per vacated residential unit, with prorated payments for multiple qualifying tenants. For example, two roommates who are both on the lease would split the relocation payment of two months’ rent.
The property owner is required to submit to the community development department a copy of the notice of relocation assistance and a list of tenants receiving relocation payment.
For more information, see San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.16.279