Policy: Tenant Protections

Displacement is an urgent and critical issue in Marin County. The combination of our lack of tenant protections and very high housing prices has made Marin a target for institutional investors. In recent years, institutional investors have purchased a number of multi-family properties, updated the properties and hiked rents. With each purchase, members of our workforce are being forced to leave the County and commute into work. In addition to the huge disruption these forced moves cause, these former residents add, on average, 32 miles to their commutes, increasing traffic and emissions. In summer 2024, evictions in Marin County are up 79% from 2023. View MarinRentControl for more information.

MEHC supports policies that reduce displacement. This November’s ballot includes several local measures to reduce displacement. MEHC has taken the following positions on these initiatives:

MEASUREMEHC SAYS
Fairfax Measure I: This measure would increase rent prices and allow unfair evictions. This measure was put forward by landlords arguing against the rent control in place in Fairfax. The already existing rent control is aligned with state law. This measure would repeal it and replace it with less protections for tenants.NO on Measure I
Larkspur Measure K: Would keep rent affordable, prevents unfair evictions, provides a fair return on rents, helps combat displacement from MarinYES on Measure K
San Anselmo Measure O: Would provide Just Cause tenant protectionsYES on Measure O
San Anselmo Measure N: Would implement rent controlYES on Measure N
Tenant Protection Measures in Marin
Tenant Protection Measures in Marin

Marin’s housing shortage continues to inflict severe hardships on families and local workers struggling to maintain their access to schools, jobs, and other important resources.  Behind statistics describing the long-standing housing…

Updated Tenant Protections List
Updated Tenant Protections List

As more jurisdictions implement and update their tenant protections, this list will reflect those changes. MEHC supports tenant protections. Unincorporated Marin (Just Cause) San Rafael (Just Cause) Fairfax (Rent Stabilization and…

California State capitol
California legislative wins: a review  

Happy New Year, fellow housing nerds and policy wonks!There is a lot to catch up on! The 2023 California legislative season ended in October with record-setting housing activity, November was for…

Allowable rent increases under CA state law
Tenant Protections & Jurisdictions’ Responses

What are Marin cities and towns, and the county, doing to prevent displacement?  As housing costs in Marin continue to soar despite national trends, tenant protections have become a hot topic. Fairfax, Larkspur, and unincorporated…