Rent control

California lawmakers have introduced more than 130 bills this year that try to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis.

Reams of statistics support the depth of the problem: California’s homeownership rate is at its lowest since World War II, a third of renters spend more than half of their income on housing costs and the state has nearly a quarter of the nation’s homeless residents — despite having 12% of the overall U.S. population.

As rental rates climb and the vacancy rate bottoms out, the City of Santa Barbara will consider a number of measures for a potential rent-regulation ordinance. On the table at Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting will be rent control, just-cause evictions, mandatory leases, safety inspections for multifamily residential buildings and enhanced tenant-landlord mediation resources.

Assemblymembers Bloom, Bonta & Chiu have introduced AB 1506, a bill to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.  Tenants Together welcomes the growing interest in Sacramento in repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a failed 1995 law that has exacerbated California’s affordable housing crisis.  The Act unfairly ties the hands of cities that are attempting to deal with runaway housing costs at the local level.  Tenant organizations in California have all identified Costa-Hawkins as a major barrier to strong rent control and universal displacement protections. 

For at least the next 45 days, the owners of age-restricted mobile home parks in San Juan Capistrano will not be allowed to change the rules so they can rent to people of all ages.

The City Council imposed a 45-day moratorium on park conversions Tuesday night to give city staff time to evaluate whether the ban should be made permanent.

The council’s 4-0 vote to enact a freeze drew cheers from an audience of mostly senior citizens who live in mobile home parks that are restricted to ages 55 and older.

For at least the next 45 days, the owners of age-restricted mobile home parks in San Juan Capistrano will not be allowed to change the rules so they can rent to people of all ages.

The City Council imposed a 45-day moratorium on park conversions Tuesday night to give city staff time to evaluate whether the ban should be made permanent.

The council’s 4-0 vote to enact a freeze drew cheers from an audience of mostly senior citizens who live in mobile home parks that are restricted to ages 55 and older.

A Sacramento company has filed a civil complaint challenging Humboldt County’s recently approved mobile home rent control ordinance, Measure V.

The complaint filed by Ocean West Investors LLC claims the implementation of Measure V as currently written will result in significant and unlawful financial impacts to its McKinleyville mobile home park Ocean West Senior Village. Measure V was passed by county voters in November 2016.

Sacramento may be Northern California’s next battleground for rent control.

During a town hall meeting at the Memorial Auditorium last week, a number of residents told central city Councilman Steve Hansen that the state capital needs rent stabilization before any more people are displaced by rising prices.

Richmond, CA – Confirming thirty years of legal precedent, this Monday Hon. Judge Craddick denied the California Apartment Association's (CAA) motion for preliminary injunction to stall rent control and just cause for eviction in Richmond, Measure L. The implementation of Measure L will now continue with the appointment of a rent board.  Measure L passed with 65 percent support, but the CAA filed a lawsuit asking for an injunction against the implementation.

Tenants all over the state are facing massive unprecedented displacement because of landlords and real-estate speculators gambling on our homes, causing rents to rise. However, we are continuing to build momentum with several local wins in the past month.