Two out of three landlords of rent-controlled apartments in Pasadena have signed up for a controversial database, leaving a third of the property owners out of compliance.
By Sunday’s registration deadline, 64 percent of the city’s landlords or 4,729 rent-stabilized properties had signed up as required by law in the city’s Rental Registry, Pasadena Now reported.
Early this month, the number of registered property owners was 48 percent.
The Rental Registry is a central database containing information on all rental units in Pasadena subject to rent control approved by voters in November 2022. It includes property addresses, unit types, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, current rent, allowable rent increases, lease terms, landlord contact details and management company information.
“As rental housing providers continue to complete their registrations, our focus will shift to thorough reviews of all properties currently flagged for staff pending or unit discrepancy statuses,” Helen Morales, director of the Rent Stabilization Department, told Pasadena Now.
“Determining the final number of registered units will require a complete review of these pending cases.”
Measure H, Pasadena’s first rent control measure, was a charter amendment to set up a rental housing board to oversee rent control, just-cause evictions, relocation assistance and more.
It was challenged in court by landlords, but upheld by a state judge.
The California Apartment Association is appealing that ruling and filed an opening brief late last month.
Some Pasadena landlords have expressed concerns about whether the data collected through the rental registry might be misused, including fears it could provide information to target landlords or fuel protests against them.
“The Rent Stabilization Department prioritizes data security and adheres to strict protocols to protect landlords’ information. Personal identifiable information will not be released publicly,” Morales said.
It’s not clear what penalty will be imposed on landlords of rent-controlled properties who don’t register with the city.
Failure to comply may result in tenants having the right to withhold rent until the owner complies with the registration requirements; owners of rent-controlled units being prohibited from increasing rent; and property owners being unable to evict tenants, according to the newspaper.
Read more
Residential
Los Angeles
Pasadena moves to create rent control department for tenant protections
Politics
Los Angeles
Pasadena to implement city’s first rent control measure
Residential
Los Angeles
Judge upholds Pasadena’s first rent control measure