7.50.090 Amount of relocation payments.

(a) Permanent Displacement. An eligible tenant household that will experience permanent displacement as defined above shall receive a monetary relocation payment from the property owner equal to three times the current monthly United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rent for a unit of comparable size and type to the dwelling or room from which the displacement occurs, plus a payment not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for actual moving costs and related expenses incurred by the tenant household and substantiated by reasonably probative documentation. The property owner shall treat any non-complying dwelling or room that does not have one or more separate bedrooms as an "efficiency unit" for purposes of determining the applicable HUD Fair Market Rent and calculating the required monetary relocation payment on that basis. In addition, the tenant household is entitled to a refund and/or accounting for any security deposit held by the property owner pursuant to California Civil Code section 1950.5. For purposes of this chapter, "HUD Fair Market Rent" means the amount specified in the schedule of Fair Market Rents for existing housing published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, applicable to the City of San Mateo and current as of the date the City or court issues the notice to vacate, notice to abate life-threatening condition, or declaration of substandard condition.

(b) Temporary Displacement.

1. An eligible tenant household that will experience temporary displacement as defined above shall receive monetary relocation payment or payments from the property owner to cover the tenant household's actual and reasonable moving expenses in addition to temporary housing accommodations costs incurred as a result of the temporary displacement. "Moving expenses" shall include the cost of removing, transporting, and/or storing the tenant household's personal property during the displacement period. "Temporary housing accommodations costs" shall include the cost of rental payments and hotel or motel payments during the displacement period. The total amount of temporary housing accommodations costs paid by the property owner shall not exceed three times the current monthly HUD Fair Market Rent for a unit of comparable size and type to the dwelling or room from which the displacement occurs. If the tenant household is not paying rent during the displacement period, then the property owner shall be entitled to deduct the amount the tenant household would have paid from the relocation payments required under this paragraph.

2. In lieu of the relocation payments required under subsection (b)(1), the property owner may offer to provide a tenant household temporary housing accommodations. Tenant household shall have the sole option to accept or decline this offer.

3. Temporary housing accommodations shall be (a) comparable in size, condition, or amenities to the formerly occupied dwelling or room and (b) comply with all applicable zoning, building and housing codes and (c) shall be located within San Mateo city limits or any jurisdiction that borders San Mateo, unless the tenant agrees in writing to accept temporary housing accommodations in a different location.

4. If the temporary housing accommodations are not comparable in size, condition, or amenities, or not located within San Mateo city limits or a jurisdiction that borders San Mateo, the property owner shall pay a living stipend in the amount of 50% of the current U.S. General Services Administration meals & incidentals per diem rate for San Mateo/Foster City/Belmont, per tenant household member, per day, not to exceed $1000 per tenant household.

(c) Except as provided in section 7.50.060(e), in no event shall the property owner be liable for making payments in excess of the amount the tenant household would receive in the case of permanent displacement under section 7.50.090(a).

(d) Immediate Vacation. When the condition of a dwelling or room is a danger to the public health and safety such that the City requires vacation with fewer than thirty (30) days advance notice either from the City or from the property owner to the tenant household of the need to vacate, an eligible tenant household displaced from such a dwelling or room shall be entitled to an additional payment from the property owner in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), in addition to the amounts set forth above. Such additional payment is intended to compensate the tenant household for the additional costs associated with short-notice moves and the added inconvenience of such moves.

(e) Payments for relocation shall not be considered by the City as income or assets for any government benefits program.