Pasadena Rental Board Explores Enforcement Strategies for Non-Compliant Properties

Pasadena Rental Housing Board Members discussed strategies to increase compliance with mandatory rental property registration during the Board’s Thursday evening meeting, as the department faces a possible $1.047 million deficit with approximately 6,688 units still in “uncertain” status.

The Board reviewed multiple possible enforcement options, including potential misdemeanor charges for landlords who refuse to register, while approving a $5.37 million budget for fiscal year 2026 that includes 21 full-time equivalent employees.

“We are serious about these registrations and we’re acting on behalf of the Board to collect those fees, [it is] very imperative that we get these fees,” Helen Morales, Rent Stabilization Department Director, told the Board.

The department has implemented a multi-step notification process, sending initial registration letters on September 23, followed by non-compliance letters to landlords on March 24 and May 1, and notifications to tenants on May 7.

Department staff reported these tenant notifications are generating results, especially since they include information about tenants’ right to petition to withhold rent from non-compliant landlords.

“We’re getting landlords coming in with the letters from the tenants saying ‘you sent these to my tenants and I’m here to register.’ So it’s working,” Morales told the Board.

The department reported 4,904 completed registrations and 1,772 exemptions granted, with approximately 81% in substantial compliance.

Revenue collected has reached about $3.9 million, with staff noting they’ve identified 2,596 previously unknown rental units during their compliance efforts.

Yet despite multiple outreach efforts including workshops, utility bill inserts, bus advertisements, social media campaigns, and library events, thousands of properties remain unregistered.

Program Manager Sophia Van reported: “From what I noticed, the majority of the non-compliance are the smaller landlords. It’s a lot harder to find out where we could reach them and contact them.”

The department staff members explained they need to collect fees not just for current operations but also to cover past expenses from when the program started.