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Local Advocacy Update
Local Advocacy Update
By Danielle Leidner-Peretz, Director, Government Affairs & External Relations
Rent control and related regulations remain at the forefront of City Council discussions. Oxnard adopted two ordinances, which go into effect on June 4th that impose local rent control and “just cause” eviction regulations. Bell Gardens instituted an interim rent increase freeze pending consideration of a proposed local rent control ordinance. In addition, it is anticipated that prior to the end of the month, the Ventura City Council will consider for adoption an ordinance imposing just cause requirements more restrictive than State law under Assembly Bill 1482 with respect to tenancy terminations due to substantial remodel of residential rental property. Rent control is also appearing on the November 2022 ballot, as proponents in Pasadena have obtained required signatures and had certified a rent control ballot measure; and in Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board is recommending a ballot measure that would amend the City’s rent control City Charter provisions. The Association is opposed to any form of rent control and will continually and vehemently advocate against such draconian, harmful policies.
As it relates to moratoriums on evictions and/or rent increases, while the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County maintain their local moratoriums, Beverly Hills is ending their moratorium on evictions and rent increases on May 31, 2022, and Pasadena is ending their residential eviction moratorium on June 30, 2022. We encourage members with property in the cities of Beverly Hills and/or Pasadena to review the full details of the City’s ordinances, in combination with the applicability of the existing Los Angeles County Eviction Moratorium and potential applicability of the State’s COVID-19 protections. It is important that housing providers consult with an attorney regarding specific eviction questions and the specifics of their situation.
Our Association is continually monitoring and advocating for our members’ interests in localities throughout Southern California on a multitude of critical issues affecting rental housing. Summarized below are some of the issues that are likely to be coming up, that were recently considered or that have been approved in Los Angeles County, or in the cities of Los Angeles, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Oxnard, Santa Monica, and Ventura.
City of Los Angeles Local Emergency Extended Once More: Moratoriums on Evictions and Rent Increases Remain in Place
The City of Los Angeles continues to extend the City’s local emergency which was extended again on April 27th for another 30 days, with Councilmembers Buscaino and Lee voting in opposition; and with it the extension of the City’s eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze whose expirations are directly tied to the expiration of the local emergency. Both Councilmembers Buscaino and Lee have repeatedly voted against the continued extension of the local emergency and have raised concerns regarding the detrimental impact of this action on small business rental housing providers.
On a related matter, on April 25th, the Los Angeles Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment held a special meeting and advanced a motion directing the City’s Housing Department to report on recommended amendments to the City’s eviction moratorium and data related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
City of Los Angeles Engages in Stakeholder Discussions on Building Decarbonization
The City’s objective of achieving zero carbon buildings is a complex issue and raises numerous concerns for the rental housing industry, among them, the significant fiscal implications on owners of the City’s existing, older rental housing in which extensive building renovation and upgrades may be required. The Association has raised initial concerns on the matter with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) and will maintain an ongoing dialogue relative to the implications of such policies as LAHD continues exploring building decarbonization and reports to the City Council with recommendations for meeting the City’s zero carbon buildings goals.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Waives Annual RSO Rent Registration Fee
At the April 19th Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved waiving the annual Rent Stabilization Ordinance’s (RSO) rent registration fees. The County’s RSO, applicable to the County’s unincorporated areas, requires rental housing providers to register their rental units and pay a fee. The annual fee is $90 per unit for rental units subject to both the County’s RSO and Just-
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