The Council of the City of Stockton finds and determines that:
A. 
Some residential rental units in Stockton have severe code violations which threaten the life, health, and safety of tenants and require the units or rooms to be vacated to allow for extensive repairs. Such code violations are often caused by deferred maintenance, which may constitute a breach of the landlord's implied warranty of habitability. Tenants of substandard residential units or structures suffer financial hardship when required to vacate their housing, because the owner fails to correct the substandard conditions.
B. 
It is appropriate to require the owner to partially mitigate the tenants' hardship, since the hardship arises from the owner's failure to comply with the law and fulfill a landlord's obligations to the tenants. Financial hardship arises, because the tenant generally needs a large sum of money to relocate, often including temporary housing, first and last month's rent, deposits, moving expenses, storage expenses, and utility deposits for a new residence. Low-income tenants are generally unable to obtain such sums and, as a result, are at great risk of becoming homeless.
(Prior code § 1-092)
Any tenant who is displaced from any residential unit as a result of a notice and order to vacate and pay relocation benefits due to unsafe or hazardous living conditions, issued by an authorized City official, shall be entitled to receive relocation benefits from the owner as specified in this chapter.
(Prior code § 1-093)
The relocation benefits shall be an amount equal to twice the established monthly rental rate paid by the tenant for the unit being vacated or the monthly amount paid by the tenant for the new unit where the tenant moves, whichever is less. The relocation benefits shall include an administrative fee per unit set by the City Council to cover the City's cost of administering these benefits. If the tenant is currently receiving general relief assistance from the County, the City may reimburse the County for its administrative expenses in the amount of $300.00 per unit. This amount shall be added to the amount owed by the owner.
(Prior code § 1-094)
If the notice and order to vacate and pay relocation benefits requires the tenant to move out in 72 hours or less time, the tenant shall be entitled to the reasonable and actual cost for temporary housing (up to two weeks), moving expenses and the cost to store personal property (up to two weeks), while the tenant finds another place to live, in addition to the relocation benefits specified in Section 1.52.030.
(Prior code § 1-095)
A. 
Any displaced tenant who needs relocation benefits may apply to the City Revitalization Department for benefits not later than 60 days after the date to vacate specified in the notice. In order for the tenant to be eligible for relocation benefits from the City, the tenant must have rented a new habitable unit within 60 days after the date to vacate. The City may recover from the owner the amount the City pays in relocation benefits, emergency relocation benefits, and any amounts paid to the County plus the City's administrative fee.
B. 
The City shall notify the owner by mail of the amount of relocation benefits due. Any amounts due and unpaid from the owner 10 days after the notice is mailed shall constitute a personal obligation of the owner, and a lien may be recorded against the property. The remedies herein are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies available under law.
C. 
Nothing contained in this chapter shall require the City to pay any relocation benefits to any tenant.
(Prior code § 1-096)
An owner may appeal the determination that relocation benefits are owed within 10 days after the date the notice and order to vacate and pay relocation benefits is first mailed to the owner or posted on the premises following the same procedures set forth in Sections 1.44.070 through 1.44.130.
(Prior code § 1-097)
A. 
No relocation benefits shall be payable by the owner or City to any tenant who has caused or substantially contributed to the condition giving rise to the order to vacate as determined by the Revitalization Director.
B. 
No relocation benefits shall be payable by the owner or City if the unit or structure became unsafe or hazardous as a result of an earthquake, flood, fire, or other natural disaster not proximately caused by building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or fire code violations.
C. 
No relocation benefits shall be payable by the owner or City to any tenant who refuses to move into a habitable unit that the City determines is available for that tenant within the 60 days following the date to vacate.
(Prior code § 1-097; Ord. 012-07 § 1)
Any notice and order to vacate and pay relocation benefits issued to an owner or tenant shall be accompanied by information of the relocation benefits contained herein. Failure to provide such information shall not relieve any person of the obligations imposed by this chapter.
(Prior code § 1-099)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to property owned by the City, the Stockton Redevelopment Agency, the San Joaquin Housing Authority, the County, the State, or any other governmental agency.
(Prior code § 1-100)