Rental Board Releases New Forms, Section 8 and Government-Subsidized Rental Housing Guidance 

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board (PRHB) has released a much-anticipated letter to clarify frequently asked questions by tenants and property managers around government-subsidized rental housing and protections under the Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment.  

The guidance was issued to help landlords, tenants, and other stakeholders in determining which provisions of the Charter Amendment, if any, are applicable to their situation.

Information provided in the letter includes:

• In cases where Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients live in multifamily apartment buildings where all of the other tenancies are covered by both rent stabilization and just cause, then the Section 8 voucher recipient is also covered. 
• For Section 8 voucher recipients who reside in a single-family home that would be subject to the just cause for eviction protections if any other tenant resided there, then the Section 8 voucher recipient is entitled to the just cause protections.
• Rent increases for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher tenancy that are covered by the rent stabilization provisions of the Charter Amendment should be calculated by applying the effective Annual General Adjustment (AGA) to the entire Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract rent, not just the tenant’s share of the rent.  And pursuant to the Charter Amendment, the rent for these tenancies may not be increased more than once in any twelve-month period.
•  The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program has no applicable federal or state law or administrative regulation that specifically exempts rental units subsidized with Section 8 Project-based Vouchers from municipal rent control, meaning those tenants are protected by Pasadena rent control.
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program tenants can petition for downward adjustments of rent pursuant to the Charter Amendment like tenants in unsubsidized housing can. 

The letter also provides instructions on communication with housing counselors and the information residents need to include in emails to speed up the process.  

The public is advised that while the Board is working to fully staff up its program, please allow at least 48-72 hours for a response.

Additional forms and information for tenants and landlords which include a Notice to Tenants of Buy-out Negotiation.  English language forms can be accessed at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/pasadena-rental-housing-board/#forms.

Spanish language forms are also being rolled and can be found at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/pasadena-rental-housing-board-es/.  This site includes tenant and landlord forms, the full text of the  Charter Amendment, and all Pasadena Rental Housing Board agendas in Spanish.  Residents can also find the Spanish language slides from tenant and landlord workshops. 

The full text of the PRHB Section 8 Guidance Letter can be found here: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/PRHB-Section-8-Guidance-Letter.pdf?v=1702319992483

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 more information about the Pasadena Rental Housing Board: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/pasadena-rental-housing-board/