Some local tenants will soon receive forms in the mail stating that their rent will be increased by 3%.
The city’s rent committee approved the increase on August 15.
However, according to several landlords, the city waited until the last minute to release the form, meaning some tenants may not receive the form in the mail before the 30-day deadline.
According to Pasadena Housing Providers, landlords must give Section 8 tenants 60 days’ notice and regular tenants 30 days’ notice by October 1 if they wish to increase rent.
Pasadena Housing Providers (PHP) is an advocacy group for local landlords.
“The board has had this information since April 10th. It is a disservice to landlords and tenants to wait until August 15th to vote on the rent increase and August 26th to post the required form, which is the last possible date,” said Simon Gibbons, local landlord and Pasadena resident. “This is an alarming lack of planning and indicates a lack of professionalism on the board and the Rent Stabilization Department. I look forward to newly appointed Director Helen Morales making some significant improvements.”
But August 26 is not the deadline.
According to the city constitution, the form must be published by September 1.
The rental office published the form on Monday at 7:50 a.m.
Ryan Bell, chairman of the Rental Housing Board, said Pasadena now There was no harassment on Monday.
“We have complied with the city’s charter,” said Board Chairman Ryan Bell.
“Pursuant to Charter Amendment XVIII, Section 808. Rent increase pursuant to annual lump sum adjustment. (a) Annual lump sum adjustment. Not later than September 1 of each year, the Rent Committee shall announce the amount of the annual lump sum adjustment, which shall take effect on October 1 of the same year.”
Members of the group attended the Pasadena Rental Housing Board meeting on August 15 to ensure that housing providers’ voices were heard on this issue.
The Board of Directors approved the increase at its meeting.
“The Rent Stabilization Division is committed to working with all stakeholders, both tenants and housing providers,” said Director Helen Morales. “In addition, we would like to inform housing providers that the Rent Stabilization Division will mail annual registration notices to all rental housing providers on September 23, 2024. The deadline for housing providers to register their units with the Pasadena Rental Registry is December 22, 2024. More information will be provided as part of the Rent Stabilization Division’s rental registry campaign.”
To increase the rent under Measure H, housing providers must send a special form, since the rent increase requires a change to the rental agreement.
In 2022, Pasadena voters approved Measure H, a rent control ballot initiative that limits the amount landlords can raise rent, lowers rent, and provides protection from evictions.
The board must publish the AGA by September 1st. According to the city statutes, this defines the maximum amount by which the rent can be legally increased from October 1st of the same year.
The PHP described the wait as an “unnecessary delay” as the information has been available since local inflation rates and the required data has been available since April 10.
“We found that neither Board Chairman (Ryan) Bell nor Director (Helen) Morales of the Division of Rent Stabilization were aware of the rules of their own measure, which require housing providers to submit a special form in addition to the usual form to change lease terms,” the group said.