City Council Could Take a Stance on Rent Control Initiative

The Pasadena City Council is expected to provide direction Monday to city staff as to whether the Council will take a position in support of or in opposition to — or remain neutral —on a Charter Amendment Rent Control Measure that has qualified for the November 2022 General Election ballot.

“With respect to the subject Charter Amendment Rent Control Measure, in addition to voting to file arguments against the measure, the City Council may as a body choose to remain neutral and not file any arguments,” according to a city staff report. “In that case, it is likely that an organized opposition group would prepare and file arguments against the measure. Further, members of the City Council could file arguments for or against the measure as individual voters eligible to vote on the measure, if any member(s) chose to do so.”

A coalition of the Pasadena Tenants Union and several partner organizations in the Pasadena community is behind the Pasadena Rent Control charter amendment campaign.

The ballot provision would amend the city’s Charter to cap annual rent increases at 2 to 3%.

A new rental housing board established under the city’s charter amendment would administer the requirements.

Landlords would only be allowed to evict tenants for just causes, like failure to pay rent.

California rents are among the highest in the nation. In some areas rents on apartments now top $3,000.

About half of Pasadena tenants pay over 30% of their income in rent, according to the Coalition. A quarter of the city’s tenants are severely rent-burdened, paying over 50% of their income in rent, the Coalition’s statement added.

The charter amendment would also close the “renoviction loophole” and allows tenants to return to their home if temporary relocation is necessary for health and safety-related repairs.

In addition, the charter amendment would stabilize rents by limiting increases to 75% of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index and limiting increases to once a year.

The amendment also conforms to State law requiring a Fair Rate of Return for landlords and allows tenants to petition for rent decreases if repairs are not made or services are withheld.