State Ballot Measure Would Lift Rent Control Limits

Friday, March 23, 2018
Jeff Collins
Orange County Register

Even if cities pass rent control today, such measures won’t apply to apartments that are at least 23 years old or to houses or condos of any age. But if a group of activists gets their way, California voters will have the ability to eliminate those restrictions next November. A ballot-initiative drive is underway to repeal the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Act, which severely limits rent control in the state. The law prohibits rent control for condominiums, single-family homes or new construction — anything built after 1995 or after a city first established rent control. It also allows landlords to reset rents to market rates after a tenant moves out of a rent-controlled unit and another moves in. Legislation to repeal the law died in committee in January. Initiative supporters report they have at least 25 percent of the 365,880 signatures they need to gather by June 25.

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