NEARLY A YEAR AFTER dozens of residents were forced from their homes after their apartment building was condemned, the Novato City Council adopted a strengthened tenant protection ordinance Tuesday.
Supporters of the ordinance say the move was driven in part by the displacement of a dozen households living in the condemned Romar Court Apartments last April.
The new ordinance builds on California’s 2019 Tenant Protection Act but adds local provisions tailored to Novato. It adds additional safeguards for renters facing “no-fault” evictions, such as when buildings are red tagged for safety violations or withdrawn from the rental market. Tenants displaced by unsafe building orders can receive expanded relocation payments.
“The new ordinance requires the landlord to pay the tenant a per diem rate of $250 per household,” said Charlotte Gonnella of North Marin Community Services. The tenant continues to pay rent, and the per diem payments end at the maximum relocation rate set by the city. That’s unless the tenant finds other accommodations, said Gonnella.
Tenants displaced for major repairs, red-tag condemnations or similar reasons have the right to return to the unit for up to two years at a comparable rent. Landlords must provide written tenant notices in English, Spanish, or another language requested by the tenant.
Under state law, tenants must generally be given a legally defined “just cause” before they can be evicted. The new ordinance also clarifies at-fault and no-fault eviction categories to prevent arbitrary or retaliatory evictions.
The Romar Court Apartments were condemned by the city for structural and fire safety hazards.
The building had mold in the walls and 20-year-old carpeting, according to Amarantha Silva with the grassroots advocacy group Parent Voices. She said there were cracks in the walls, roaches, rats and exposed plumbing pipes and electrical wiring.
With the red-tag order, a dozen households containing more than 40 residents, including children, were displaced, according to nonprofit groups involved in the response.
Tuesday’s city council meeting was preceded by a rally outside by tenants’ rights groups, led by the nonprofit Parent Voices Marin. Members later moved inside for public comment.
Vilma Monzon, a former tenant of Romar Court, told the council that the eviction happened abruptly.
“I got a call, and they told me that I am being evicted,” Monzon said. “As a single mother, how am I going to move out all of my stuff? It took me 16 years to build my life there.”
City officials said the incident exposed gaps in tenant protections that the new ordinance is intended to address.
“When the landlord did not provide relocation assistance within 24 hours, as required by state law, the City of Novato stepped in,” said Clare Hartman, Novato’s community development director, in an email.
Nonprofits fill gaps in housing response
With help from local nonprofits, the city connected with the residents and provided relocation assistance equal to two months market-rate rent, along with support for utility deposits.
“Each household received $7,236, covering two months of rent and utility costs,” she said. “In total, the city provided $65,124 in assistance. The situation at Romar Court was a difficult and serious reminder of why these protections matter so much.”
The nonprofits, including North Marin Community Services, Legal Aid of Marin and Community Action Marin also helped families by raising another $100,000 to secure temporary hotel stays, case management and legal assistance.
“We still continue to support many of these folks with rental assistance and case management,” said Gonnella. “One of the reasons I’m passionate about this ordinance is that nonprofits don’t have to solve housing crises.”
“When families are displaced, the ripple effects impact schools, health and the entire community,” Gonnella said. “We need policies that prevent harmful landlord practices and protect our most vulnerable residents.”
The ordinance is part of the city’s Housing Element strategy, which aims to preserve existing housing and reduce displacement as Novato works to meet regional housing targets.
For former Romar Court residents, the ordinance represents progress, even if it comes too late to change their own experience.
“My daughter asked me if I would want this to happen to other families,” Monzon said. “That is why we have to advocate for them.”