Victory Alert: Alhambra Rent Control Defeated, Relocation Fees Pending
Victory Alert
Alhambra Rent Control Defeated, Relocation Fees Pending
By Janet M. Gagnon
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer & SVP Government Relations
On April 13th, the Alhambra City Council rejected a litany of horrific policies, including rent control (a/k/a rent stabilization) and rental registry based upon discussing on the City’s Housing Element.
AAGLA appeared in-person to provide testimony against these harmful policies urging the City Council to reject them and instead hold multiple town hall meetings in-person and via Zoom to obtain input from all impacted stakeholders in the community. Several rental housing providers also attended the meeting and spoke against these policies. Together, we were able to defeat them!
However, at the same meeting under a separate item, the City Council instructed staff to bring back a draft ordinance that would TRIPLE relocation fees for all No-Fault evictions (including demolition, substantial remodels, and owner move-ins) to three months’ worth of rent that is being paid at the time that the eviction notice is served. This is a huge increase from existing state law requiring 1 months’ worth of rent.
AAGLA provided testimony opposing this item as it will prevent many mom-and-pop rental housing providers from conducting needed major system repairs (a/k/a substantial remodels or substantial rehabilitation) due to this extreme additional cost. If relocation fees are tripled, many small owners will have to sell their buildings as “forced sales” to corporate developers redeveloping the property and charge much higher rents.
In addition, not all No-Fault evictions are the same. Owner move-ins should be excluded from any increase based on the fact that owners only move into their properties as a last resort to maintain ownership during times of severe financial distress or other extreme need (such as a close family member needing medical supervision). It is unfair and grossly negligent for the City to turn a blind eye to owners that need to move into their properties.
Furthermore, City staff have failed to bring forward ANY DATA as to how many No-Fault evictions of any type are actually occurring in Alhambra that would warrant any change to existing state law.
Any increase in relocation fees would be in direct opposition to the City’s stated goal of “preserving and expanding the supply of affordable housing”.
Instead, the City should use funding from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) to create a city relocation assistance fund for low-income renters needing assistance due to No-Fault relocation.
We urge all rental housing providers in Alhambra to email the full City Council urging them to reject any increase in relocation fees above what is already required by state law and, at a minimum, exempt owner move-ins from any increase. The City should use the LACAHSA funding rather than pushing its societal responsibilities onto small, independent rental housing providers.
This article is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions regarding your property or specific leasing issues and the requirements of any legal changes described herein, please consult with an attorney.