The City of San Antonio approved a new ordinance (#2020-06-25-0453) that requires
a Notice of Tenants’ Rights be attached to every Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent issued within the City limits.
This new ordinance requires that both English and Spanish versions
should be delivered with any Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent.
ENGLISH VERSION "NOTICE OF TENANTS RIGHTS"
SPANISH VERSION "NOTICE OF TENANTS' RIGHTS"
Attention: All housing providers within the City of San Antonio and Bexar County
As of July 25, 2020, a new law is in effect that requires all housing providers within the City of San Antonio to deliver a Notice of Tenants’ Rights to residents within one (1) business day of delivering a Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent. The full ordinance can be found on the City of San Antonio’s website through this link and by selecting Ordinance 2020-06-25-0453 and on the San Antonio Apartment Association website under the Resources tab..
This new ordinance was negotiated and written with the assistance of the San Antonio Apartment Association. Its purpose is to ensure residents understand that a Notice to Vacate is a prompt to communicate, not a prompt to immeadiately move out. This notice should help facilitate a dialogue between the resident and housing provider to prevent moving forward with an eviction. It can also connect housing providers and residents to resources for financial assistance.
To comply with the ordinance, the Notice of Tenants’ Rights must be delivered in English and in Spanish within one (1) business day of delivering a Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent. It is recommended that you deliver the Notice of Tenants’ Rights at the same time you deliver the Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent. Housing providers should document delivery of the Notice of Tenants’ Rights similar to how you document your delivery of the Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent.
A violation of the ordinance takes place when a housing provider does not deliver the Notice of Tenants’ Rights within one (1) business day of delivering a Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent. A complaint alleging a violation must be reported to Code Compliance or the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department within ninety (90) days from the date of the violation.
Housing Providers will receive a warning for their first violation. After the first violation and receipt of a warning, subsequent violations will be tried in Municipal Court and result in a fine up to five-hundred dollars ($500).
If you receive a violation, follow any instructions it may contain about appearing in court. You may be able to contest the violation if you have saved documentation of delivery. Ensure that delivering the Notice of Tenants’ Rights is a part of your standard policy and procedures for delivering Notices to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent. Ensure that your staff and representatives who may assist in delivering Notices to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent know and understand the requirements of the ordinance.