City Informs Tenants if Their Landlord Has Failed to Register Their Rental Unit

The Pasadena Rent Stabilization Department recently mailed Noncompliance Letters to landlords who may not have registered their covered rental units with the Department’s Rental Registry, as required by Charter Article XVIII.

As part of this effort, affected tenants have also been notified.

Copies of the Noncompliance Letters and a Charter Information Sheet were mailed to tenants residing in the impacted units.

These materials inform tenants of their right to file a Petition for Rent Withholding with the Hearings Division due to their landlord’s potential noncompliance with Charter registration requirements. If authorized by a hearing officer, tenants may be permitted to withhold rent from their landlord and pay it into an escrow account while their landlord remains noncompliant.

Tenants interested in filing a petition can find the necessary forms, instructions, and the online filing portal on the Department’s website under “Petitions and Hearings.”

Importantly, tenants should not withhold rent on their own. Tenants who want to exercise this right must follow the procedures in Chapter 9 of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board’s regulations. Rent may only be withheld for these purposes after a hearing officer issues an official order allowing the rent to be withheld, directing the payment into an escrow account. During the hearing process, tenants must continue paying rent in accordance with their lease or rental agreement.

Even if such an order is issued, the Department cannot prevent landlords from pursuing legal actions against tenants, including eviction or unlawful detainer filings, or issuing an eviction notice for nonpayment of rent. Therefore, tenants are strongly encouraged to seek legal advice or consult with a tenant representative before initiating the rent withholding process.

For more information and resources, please visit the Rent Stabilization Department’s website at: CityOfPasadena.net/Rent-Stabilization/.