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city’s administrators at an estimated cost of about $635,000 through the end of this year. The “rent stabilization” ordinance mandates a 3 percent “cap” on annual residential rent increases, effective May 1st.
RENTER GROUPS MARCH IN PASADENA IN FAVOR OF RENT CONTROL BALLOT INITIATIVE
Dozens of renters and supporters marched through Pasadena this past February to support of a proposed rent control ballot initiative until a sudden rain stopped demonstrators. The demonstration was organized by the Pasadena Tenant Justice Coalition (PTJC)—a group of apparent, progressive and Socialist labor and tenants’ rights advocates. Groups organizing the demonstration included the National Day Laborers Network (NDLON), Pasadenans Organizing for Progress (POP!), and the Pasadena Tenants Union. In order to qualify for the local ballot, 8,400 validated signatures must be collected by the statutory deadline to qualify for the November 2022 general election. If successful, the proposed amendment to the Pasadena City Charter would enact rent control and just cause eviction protection laws in the City.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY CANCELS PROPERTY TAX PENALTIES AND OTHER FEES FOR COVID- IMPACTED OWNERS
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to cancel property tax penalties and other fees incurred by property owners who were adversely impacted financially by the County’s moratorium on evictions and of tenants unable to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The county’s eviction moratorium was recently extended in varying degrees through the end of this year and potentially until June 30, 2023. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who had opposed the County’s latest extension of the
moratorium, introduced the motion with Supervisor Janice Hahn to eliminate penalties and fees.
The County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is responsible for contacting property owners within the County to provide information about how to request cancellation of tax penalties or other fees incurred due to loss of rental income.
PROPOSAL WOULD LIMIT HOW L.A. LANDLORDS CAN SCREEN POTENTIAL RENTERS
Three L.A. City Council members introduced a legislative package today that they said would target discriminatory rental practices and help people experiencing homelessness secure housing faster.
The trio of proposals, if adopted by the City Council, would:
• Prohibit inquiring about a prospective tenants’ failure to pay rent or bills during the COVID-19 emergency period, prior or current participation in a rental assistance program, eviction history, or credit history.
• Require landlords to disclose in writing to prospective applicants the screening criteria they use to evaluate and select tenants. Landlords would also be required to tell rejected tenants why they were not successful in renting the unit.
• Prohibit landlords from inquiring directly or indirectly about a rental applicant’s criminal history, or if the information is received, from using it in their evaluation about the application.
Owner-occupied properties and shared living arrangements would be exempt from the ordinance, according to the motion.
The motions were introduced by Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who represents portions of Los Feliz and Silver Lake, and Councilmen Mike Bonin and Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
Raman noted that people can be penalized by credit checks for prioritizing their rental payments above all else, causing problems when they look for housing in the future despite not missing rent payments.
“When people have a home, they work so hard to stay in it. They will pay for rent before they pay for food,” Raman said. “They will pay for rent certainly before they make those credit card payments. And
APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022 CS-3