Comments on: Rent Control – The Property Owners “Right to Life” Issue

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:02:20 +0000

Did rent control initiative pass in Pasadena?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:22:18 +0000

I really don’t see rent control hurting landlords, but tenants can be hurt without it. This article seems to suggest that the landlord’s profits are somehow more important than the livelihood of the tenant. With rent control, the landlord can still increase the rent every year, but they are limited to an amount that can be fairly managed by the tenant. Rent control basically requires property owners to be REASONABLE about their rent increases. From a tenant’s perspective, if my rent suddenly went up more than I can afford, I would consider that a pretty unfair increase and would be forced to move. Besides, with rent control, a landlord can still charge whatever rent they want from NEW tenants, they would only be limited to a 4% increase every year thereafter.

I understand we live in a free market, but there are those few things in life that we can’t avoid relying on to maintain a modest living, one of those things being housing. I believe, to a reasonable degree, there needs to be some sort of regulation that keeps hard working people from being taken advantage of by greed. I certainly don’t feel entitled to live in a fancy place when I can’t afford it- that will come later in life after I have worked for it. However, I refuse to live in Section 8 housing amongst drug addicts and alcoholics who take advantage of welfare because they don’t want to work for a living. I don’t mean to stereotype here, I just know that my dad’s neighborhood started getting some pretty bad neighbors once Section 8 started moving in.

By: Doug Willis

Doug Willis — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:13:31 +0000

Charles, I spoke with an attorney with the California Assoc of Realtors. There is no maximum increase allowable on a non-rent controlled unit. She did however cite an example such as doubling a persons rent could be seen as an example of retaliation if a tenant had complained or ask tht something be cortrected.

By: Charles Kennan

Charles Kennan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:03:23 +0000

Mr Willis,

What is the maximum allowable rent increse in Pasadena (or California) for a property that is not under rent control? (Move in date was with in teh last two years – no rent increases in that time).

I was under the impression that the State of California had a maximum allowable.

I look forward to your reply. Thank you in advance.

Kind regards – Charles Kennan.

By: rasman

rasman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:50:13 +0000

I’m for rent control. I teach in Pasadena, and honestly it’s quite expensive to live out here.
Rent especially is ridiculous. I’ve seen studio apartments that go for well over 1300 a month
(not counting utilities and of course basic living expenses).
Which is pretty hard to make when your only pulling 1700-1900 a month after taxes.
Property owners would not go broke by a cap, they could still raise their rent every year, it
would just force them to keep more in line with the cost of living for the rest of us.

By: turbo

turbo — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:14:52 +0000

Cities should not be able to dictate rents in a given area. This infringes on property rights of individuals to make a property on their investment.