Eviction Moratorium

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Temporary Eviction Moratorium due to Covid-19 Pandemic EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2020

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More information for landlords about the eviction moratorium is available here.

Last updated July 20, 2020 at 10:20 p.m.

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In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Mountain View City Council enacted a temporary eviction moratorium suspending residential evictions for non-payment of rent due to related financial impacts. The ordinance is effective through August 31, 2020.

City staff hosts webinars about the eviction moratorium on the following dates:

July 2020

• July 9 at 6:00 p.m.*; July 16 at 3:00 p.m.; July 23 at 6:30 p.m.** and July 30 at 3:00 p.m.*

August 2020

• August 6 at 6:00 p.m.*; August 13 at 3:00 p.m.; August 20 at 6:30 p.m.* and August 27 at 3:00 p.m.

*Webinar in English and Spanish (Webinar en inglés y español)
**Webinar in English and Mandaring (英语和普通话网络研讨会)

A PDF of the webinar is available here.  Un PDF del seminario web está disponible aquí. 可获得网络研讨会的PDF文件 这里。 

A fact sheet about the moratorium for landlords and tenants is available here.  Una hoja informativa sobre la moratoria para propietarios e inquilinos está disponible aquí. 关于房东和租户的停工期的情况介绍，请看这里。 

For more information regarding the temporary eviction moratorium call the Mountain View Rental Housing Helpline at (650) 282-2514 or email csfra@housing.org.

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Mountain View City Council enacted a temporary eviction moratorium suspending residential evictions for non-payment of rent due to related financial impacts. The ordinance is effective March 27, 2020 through August 31, 2020 and is subject to extension as approved by the City Council. The eviction moratorium is applicable for all residential rental units in Mountain View including single-family homes, condos/townhomes, duplexes, apartments, mobile homes and mobile home spaces and other types of residential rental units.

During the moratorium, landlords who receive notification from tenants of substantial financial impact due to COVID-19 cannot evict tenants for not paying rent. Tenants are required to pay the past due rent within 180 days after the end of the moratorium. This repayment period begins after the end of the moratorium and repayment plans are not required under the ordinance.

No late fees may be assessed on past-due rent covered by the moratorium. COVID-19 impact notices can be used as an affirmative defense by impacted tenants in Unlawful Detainer Court. Landlords who violate this ordinance are subject to code enforcement action, administrative penalties, and fines pursuant to the City Code. Retaliation or harassment against impacted tenants for invoking their rights under the moratorium is prohibited.

Affected tenants need to:

1. Determine eligibility
• In order to qualify, a tenant must experience a significant decrease in income due to impacts related to the pandemic, such as:
• Job loss or layoff
• Business, store or restaurant closure
• Reduction in hours worked
• Substantial decrease in business hours or demand
• Need to care for homebound children or sick family members
• Federal, State or local actions that prevent a tenant from working

-or-

• Have substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses due to the pandemic
2. Notify their landlord in writing and provide documentation
   • Tenants must notify their landlord in writing (via text, email and/or letter) within 7 days after rent is due

   • The City has created a form (English, Español, 文华 ) that may serve as a means of notification

   • Tenants must provide documentation to their landlord or representative within 14 days after rent is due; documentation may include but is not limited to:
   • Letter(s) from employers
   • Pay check stubs documenting income before and after impact
   • Bank statements documenting income before and after impact
   • Letter(s) or notification(s) from school(s)
3. After moratorium ends, pay back the rent
• Tenants have 180 days after the moratorium ends to pay back the past due rent
• Landlords and tenants are strongly encouraged to contact the Mountain View Mediation Program to negotiate repayment plans; mediation between landlords and tenants through the free and confidential Mountain View Mediation Program is strongly encouraged

Additional Assistance for Tenants

The Mountain View Rent Relief Program provides up to $3,000 per month of rental assistance for up to two months for qualifying Mountain View tenants impacted by COVID-19. The Community Services Agency (CSA) administers the program.

To apply, contact CSA via email at RentHelp@CSACares.org or call (650) 968-0836 to leave a voicemail. Email inquiries are preferred. CSA staff will respond as quickly as possible but please be patient. Households who apply after the program reaches maximum capacity will be added to a waitlist and contacted if additional funding becomes available.

Visit the City of Mountain View’s COVID-19 Relief Resources Page to learn more.

Santa Clara County has also set-up a Rent Relief Fund. Eligible households can add their names to an interest list and will be contacted when more funding is available. For more information, visit sacredheartcs.org/covid19/.

Assistance for Landlords

SMALL LANDLORD RELIEF PROGRAM

The Mountain View Small Landlord Relief Program allows landlords financially impacted by COVID-19 to apply for a loan if they experience a reduction in rental income received due to the pandemic. For more information regarding the Small Landlord Relief Program or for assistance completing the application, please contact the City at (650) 903-6122 or patricia.black@mountainview.gov, or visit MountainView.gov/SBRP.

Resources

• Eviction Moratorium Protection Form 
• Formulario de protección contra el desalojo debido a la pandemia 
• 因大流行病而向业主发出的驱逐保护通知书 
• Eviction Moratorium Documentation Form 
• Formulario de Documentación contra el desalojo debido a la pandemia 
• Eviction Moratorium Ordinance (Amendment - May 2020) 
• Eviction Moratorium Ordinance (March 2020) 
• Eviction Moratorium Press Release 
• COVID-19 Pandemic Updates
• Mountain View Mediation Program
• City of Mountain View COVID-19 Relief Resources (including Rent Relief)
• County of Santa Clara Eviction Moratorium Information
• State of California Eviction Moratorium Information

FAQs

Click on the tabs below for answers related to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium / Relief. PDFs of the FAQs are available in English, Español, and 文华.

• COVID-19 Temporary Eviction Moratorium/Relief
  • Are tenants in the City of Mountain View protected from eviction during the COVID-19 public health crisis?

    Yes, the Mountain View City Council enacted a temporary eviction moratorium on March 27, 2020 for residential tenants in the city who have lost significant income due to the coronavirus.
  • What is an eviction moratorium?

    The moratorium suspends all residential evictions for non-payment of rent because of financial impacts related to the pandemic. Unpaid rent is due 180 days after the moratorium has ended.
  • When does the eviction moratorium start?

    The moratorium went into effect on March 27, 2020 and lasts through August 31, 2020. This date may be extended by City Council. Check the City website for updates at: www.mountainview.gov/evictionrelief
  • Who is protected?

    All residential rental units in Mountain View are covered. This includes single family homes, condos, townhomes, duplexes, apartments, mobile homes and mobile home spaces and other types of residential rental units.
  • Who is eligible?

    All tenants who experience a significant decrease in income related to the pandemic, such as:

    • Job loss or layoff

    • Business, store or restaurant closure

    • Reduction in hours worked

    • Substantial decrease in business hours or demand

    • Need to care for homebound children or sick family members

    • Federal, State or local actions that prevent a tenant from working

      or

    • Have substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses due to the pandemic
  • Should a tenant pay the rent?

    The eviction moratorium only prevents a landlord from evicting a tenant during the emergency declaration of the public health crisis. It does not waive any rent payment, or stop tenants from having to pay rent. After the emergency ends, tenants will have up to 180 days to pay the rent that was not paid during the moratorium. Tenants should pay the rent during the moratorium if possible, even if it’s only a partial payment. This way, tenants are not left with a large sum to pay after the emergency is over. The moratorium just means that while the public health crisis exists, a landlord cannot evict a tenant for not paying rent if their financial hardship is related to the pandemic.
  • What if a tenant can’t pay the rent?

    If a tenant cannot pay rent, they should immediately notify their landlord in writing within 7 days after the rent is due. This can be by a letter, text, or email. A fillable form is available on the City website to assist with notifying landlords. It can be found on the City website: at https://www.mountainview.gov/evictionrelief

    Tenants must also provide documentation of their financial hardship to their landlord within 14 days after the rent is due. This can be a letter from their employer, pay check stubs or bank statements documenting your income before and after the impact, letters or notifications from schools, or any other documentation.
  • What documents are needed to provide to show lost income?

    Together with the notification to the landlord that the tenant cannot pay rent due to the pandemic, loss of income must be shown through any documentation, including:

    • Letter from employer

    • Application for unemployment

    • Paystubs or bank statements comparing previous month with recent month

    • Documentation showing the close of an employer’s business

    • Documentation showing a child’s school has closed because of COVID-19
  • Do tenants owe back-rent after the eviction moratorium ends?

    Once the eviction moratorium ends, tenants have up to 180 days to pay back rent. Landlords cannot charge late fees for any rent that was owed during the moratorium.

    It is strongly encouraged for tenants and landlords to contact the Mountain View Mediation Program to help effectively communicate and resolve any issue regarding the eviction moratorium and rent repayment. Visit https://www.mountainview.gov/mediationprogram to learn more.
  • What is mediation?

    Mediation is a voluntary, free and confidential service whereby mediators help guide parties towards a solution by allowing parties to explain their views, explore options and choose a resolution of their own making. Using mediation has no negative or positive impact on the applicability of the temporary eviction moratorium, but gives parties a tool to work out a potential repayment plan. Email CSFRA@housing.org with questions, assistance or if parties would like to set up a mediation to negotiate a payment plan.
  • Can tenants still be evicted during the moratorium?

    Yes, the eviction moratorium only protects against non-payment of rent due to the pandemic. Landlords can still give eviction notices for other reasons, such as if tenants cause a nuisance or extensive damage to the property. If a tenant receives a notice like this, please contact CSFRA@housing.org.
  • How long does the moratorium last?

    The moratorium currently ends on August 31, 2020 but may be extended by the Mountain View City Council.
  • Where can tenants get help with their rent?

    Residents of Mountain View who are unable to pay rent due to the pandemic can contact the Community Services Agency by email at renthelp@CSACares.org and request assistance with paying the rent.
  • Are commercial tenants covered?

    Small Business Commercial tenants are covered by the County of Santa Clara eviction moratorium. The City of Mountain View moratorium is limited to residential tenants. Details of the County moratorium can be accessed here https://www.sccgov.org/sites/d5/Pages/SupervisorsApproveCountywideMoratoriumonCOVID-19-Evictions.aspx
  • How do you know if the County or the City moratorium applies?

    The City moratorium applies if it is more protective of tenants than the County one. The City moratorium is more protective for all residential tenants and therefore is applicable to all residential tenants. Since the City moratorium does not include commercial tenants, the County moratorium applies to small business commercial tenants.
  • What are resources for landlords?

    • Santa Clara County – Property Tax: Partial payment program and multiple partial payments on installment. Waivers for penalties, costs, or other changes.

    • JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, US Bancorp & 200 state chartered banks & credit unions: Will waive mortgage payments for CA residents for a limited time. 60 day moratorium on foreclosures.

    • Payback Protection Program: Administered by the US Small Business Administration to offer loans to businesses with less than 500 employees.
      

    • Taxes: Deadline to file and pay federal and many California income taxes extended to July 15, 2020.
  • What if the moratorium ordinance is violated?

    Landlords who violate the ordinance are subject to code enforcement action, administrative penalties and fines pursuant to the City Code.
  • Who can tenants and landlords contact if they need help?

    • Visit the City’s COVID-19 Eviction Relief website at https://www.mountainview.gov/evictionrelief

    • Contact the Mountain View Rental Housing Helpline at (650) 282-2514 or by email at CSFRA@housing.org with questions, assistance or to set up a mediation with between landlords and tenants to negotiate a rent payment plan.