Rent Control - City of Santa Monica

Next Regular RCB meeting - December 3, 2009
7:00 p.m.; Council Chamber

** Rent Control Board meetings are aired live **
** on CityTV cable Channel 16 **

Rent Control Board Meeting Video Archive

EXTRA, EXTRA: Read the Fall 2009 Rent Control News, a newsletter published by the Santa Monica Rent Control Board. This issue contains articles on:

Sustainable Santa Monica
Continued Urgent Need to Conserve Water;

OWNERS: Rebates Offered through Gas and Electric Companies for Multifamily Buildings;

Utility Bill Assistance for Low-income Households;

Welcome and Farewell;

Temporary Rent Reductions;

Santa Monica’s 2009 General Adjustment is 1% with an $8 Floor and $16 Ceiling

At the June 11^th, 2009 Rent Control Board meeting, the Board adopted a 2009 general adjustment of 1% with a minimum increase of $8 and a maximum increase of $16. The increase for mobile home spaces is 1%.

The Rent Control Law requires the Board to adjust rents each year to cover changes in owners’ operating expenses. Among the costs the Board considers are: property taxes, utilities for common areas, water, sewer, refuse, insurance and maintenance costs. You may view the staff report and draft regulation on the proposed general adjustment here.

With proper written notice, owners may implement the increase on September 1, 2009 if: all Rent Control registration fees have been paid by August 3, 2009; the owner is in compliance with the Rent Control Law; and the property has no uncorrected notices of violation of health, safety, or housing laws.

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN TERMS OF TENANCY - 2009-2010

Adoption of Regulation 9010: On April 23, 2009 the Rent Control Board conducted a public hearing and adopted proposed regulation 9010, entitled No Evictions for Violating Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.44.040 Which Prohibits Smoking in Multi-Unit Common Areas. This regulation is effective May 1, 2009.

The staff report and the regulation may be reviewed here. They are also available in the Santa Monica Rent Control Board's office in Room 202 of Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401.

The Rent Control Board recently released a report on the impact of 10 years of state-mandated market-rate vacancy increases in Santa Monica. After a decade of vacancy decontrol/recontrol, a sizeable portion of the controlled housing stock has been rented at market rate. At the end of 2008, 56% of the controlled rental units are occupied by tenants paying market rents and 44% are occupied by longer-term (pre-1999) tenants.

You may review the complete report at this link: The Impact of Market Rate Vacancy Increases-Ten-Year Report - January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2008

The Santa Monica City Attorney’s office recently launched a web page that explains the City’s new law prohibiting smoking in common areas of all multi-family residences. The law goes into effect on February 26^th and covers both multi-unit rental properties and condominiums. For further information, go to www.smconsumer.org

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board adopted Regulation 3109, School District Qualified Special Tax (Measure R) Surcharge at their November 20, 2008 meeting.

Board Authorizes Pass-Through of the
Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax

On January 10, 2008, the Board authorized owners to pass through the cost of the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax to tenants as a surcharge on their rent. The parcel tax was approved by voters in the November 2006 election.

The Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax provides for a special exemption from the tax for low-income residents. Below are the income levels for eligibility for exemption from the surcharge:

1-person household with gross income $25,002 and below;

2-or more person household with gross income $28,650 and below.

Tenants claiming exemption from the pass-through must fill out an application. Exemption application forms will be available from the Environmental Programs Division and/or Rent Control Board soon.

Click on the links to read the staff report provided to the Board prior to the January 10^th public hearing and adoption of Regulation 3108.

Interest on Security Deposits Not Required in Santa Monica

Rent Control staff is often asked whether or not owners of Santa Monica property must pay interest on security deposits. The simple answer is “no” but the reason is more complex. Click on the link below to read a staff report presented at the September 27, 2007 Rent Control Board meeting. After discussion, the Board chose to continue its current position of not requiring interest to be paid on security deposits.

Interest on Security Deposits