CITY & COUNTY
News from Austin & Travis & Williamson counties
Austin extends renter eviction timeline, sets new organizing rights
BY BEN THOMPSON
majority of the city’s housing space. According to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 54.49% of all units in Austin are renter occupied. Both measures were supported by several local advocacy groups and tenant organizations that said the changes would balance the power dynamic between tenants and landlords in Austin while supporting renters’ ability to stay housed. However, some real estate groups and rental housing providers expressed concern that the eviction item may not be effective and could conflict with state property code. Mayor Steve Adler said the final evic- tion change created a right to cure “with some accommodations and forward protections for mobile home residents. The measure will update city guidelines to give more notice of potential relocation if properties are in line for rehabilitation or redevelopment. compromises” on both sides. Council also voted to move
AUSTIN New protections for renters aimed at staving off evictions and protecting organizing activity were approved in October. Previously, Austin tenants may have had the chance to cure, or correct, potential leasing violations when facing eviction but were not guaranteed that right. Tenants now have seven days to cure before an eviction moves along. The one-week timeline was reduced from a 21-day period that was originally proposed. The change will not apply to landlords with fewer than four residences. Council also voted for a city code update ensuring tenants can organize without interference from their landlords. Retaliation against renters for activities such as posting organizing information in public or meeting with other tenants is now a misdemeanor punishable by a fine. The rewrites to portions of city rental property code apply to a
MAJORITY-RENTER CITY New ordinances related to evictions and tenant organizing apply to the majority of households in Austin.
Owner occupied
Renter occupied
54.49%
45.51%
Citywide
47.56%
52.44%
District 1
44.55%
55.45%
District 2
73.2%
26.8%
District 3
65.43%
34.57%
District 4
49.66%
50.34%
District 5
49.76%
50.24%
District 6
59.46%
40.54%
District 7
33.1%
66.9%
District 8
70.17%
29.83%
District 9
47.01%
52.99%
District 10
SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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