San Jose City Council approves new measures to protect renters

SAN JOSE (KGO) -- The San Jose City Council has narrowly approved new measures to protect renters in the city. It came down to a close vote after hours of emotional testimony by residents.

This was a passionate debate, landlords and tenants being very vocal for their sides, with the city council making a decision late Tuesday night.

It was a tight vote that passed 6 to 5. Now landlords will be required to give tenants a reason or just cause before giving them an eviction notice. Before this passed, landlords could do no-cause evictions, which they say can help get rid of suspected drug dealers and those who damage property or violate their leases.

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Renters were concerned they could be thrown out just so the landlord could get more money from someone else.

"If full just cause is implemented, respectable tenants will not have to fear retaliatory eviction the way I and the other tenants in my building did," said Shelley Leiser, evicted tenant.

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Our media partner, the Mercury News reports San Jose had more than 2,400 without cause evictions since 2010.

Renters will now have these new protections the first day they move in.