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In a statement Tuesday the Pasadena Rental Housing Board (PRHB) said that tenants who previously reported that their landlords have not honored the rent rollback authorized by the Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment can now utilize forms created and approved by the Board to request rent rollbacks and notify their landlords of rent withholdings.
The Measure H Charter Amendment, a voter-approved tenant protection measure that regulates rent increases and decreases for most apartments in the city built before February 1, 1995, went into effect on December 1, 2022. Since that time, landlords of covered rental units were to charge no more than the Base Rent plus any lawful rent increases implemented pursuant to the terms of the Charter Amendment.
In the statement, the PRHB said that “Base Rent” means:
- For tenancies commencing on or before May 17, 2021, the Rent that was in effect on May 17, 2021.
- For tenancies commencing after May 17, 2021, the Rent paid by the tenant upon initial occupancy.
At its August 23 meeting, the PRHB adopted regulations creating a process whereby a tenant can receive the rent rollback, including a refund of any overpaid rent, and secure an additional affirmative defense against an attempted eviction for non-payment of rent.
The Board said the new forms will support both landlords and tenants in complying with these new regulations.
The first form – Request for Rent Rollback – provides tenants with a template for asking their landlords to comply with the rollback requirement in the Charter Amendment. According to regulations approved by the PRHB, landlords have 10 days to comply with the request from tenants for rent rollback and refund of overpayment of rent from December 22, 2022.
The second form is a Notice of Rent Withholding which tenants can use to notify their landlord that they will be withholding rent in the amount of their overpayment. Options for the landlord on the form include a check or money order payment to the tenant or rent credit applied to future months of rent. An “other” option on the form allows tenants and landlords to make alternate arrangements. There is also a worksheet on the form for tenants to document the months and overpayment amounts.
According to regulations approved by the PRHB, landlords have 10 days to comply with the request from tenants for rent rollback and refund of overpayment of rent since December 22, 2022.
The forms are located on the Rental Housing Board webpage. Click here.
The Pasadena Rental Housing Board said it “is excited to be able to clarify and streamline the process of rent rollbacks and overpayment for landlords and tenants to bring properties into compliance.”
The Board also said the public can learn more about the new Charter Amendment by attending two upcoming community workshops:
- Tuesday, October 3rd, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm Landlord and Property Management Workshop
- Wednesday, October 4th, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm Tenant Workshop
The workshops will be available virtually by Zoom. Pasadena Now will publish further details as available.
The Pasadena Rental Housing Board meets at 6:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at the Jackie Robinson Recreation Center, 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.
For further information about the Pasadena Rental Housing Board:https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/pasadena-rental-housing-board/
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