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.
Tenants Together consists of over 35 member organizations statewide. We believe strongly in rent control and eviction protections and have been fighting to expand and strengthen these laws across the state, while seeking statewide reforms to protect tenants. Repeal of Costa-Hawkins is only possible with a strong grassroots effort to challenge the power of the real estate and landlord lobby in the Capitol. Tenants Together is proud to be bringing tenants, organizers and allies together in such an effort.
We are pleased to learn that Assembly members Bloom, Bonta & Chiu share our view that Costa Hawkins should be repealed. We look forward to engaging with the authors to develop a plan to tackle this critical issue.