Rental Board to Consider Ellis Act Tenant Protections Protections, Small Landlord Relief

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board is set to examine potential relief measures for small landlords and consider further tenant protections at its upcoming regular meeting on November 21.

A Board review and vote on a proposed resolution recommending the City Council adopt comprehensive Ellis Act regulations protecting tenants whose rental units are withdrawn from the market is on the meeting’s agenda.

According to staff reports, these protections would include giving displaced tenants the right to return to units brought back to market within 10 years, maintaining previous rent levels for units returned within 5 years, and allowing tenants to seek damages if properties are re-rented within two years of withdrawal.

After extensive committee work including 14 meetings between August and November, plus dedicated stakeholder sessions with both landlords and tenants, the Board’s Relocation Assistance Policy Ad Hoc Committee has brought forward several recommendations.

“Over the course of 14 meetings, we have conducted in-depth discussions and gathered resources on relocation assistance programs, not only specific to Pasadena but with a comparative analysis of similar programs in other cities,” Committee Chair Brandon Lamar stated in the report.

The committee has recommended defining small landlords as “any Landlord that owns three (3) or fewer Rental Units in the state of California.”

Three policy options are under consideration: a 10% reduction in relocation assistance if the City funds the difference, reducing payments by one month’s Fair Market Rent, or maintaining current requirements.

These decisions could bring to bear signifcant financial impact required relocation payments, which currently range from $6,411 to $21,286 based on unit size and length of tenancy.

Board Member Lourdes Gonzalez emphasized the need for balanced policy, writing in her comments that “Our current City Charter and regulations are very strong in protecting our community’s tenants. I want to be clear that my views are not to dismantle protections our tenant community needs in the face of being evicted for no fault of their own.”

Board Member Deborah Dunlop expressed concerns about potential changes, stating in her report that “I do not agree with a two-tier system because I foresee abuse within the area of confirming the actual units owned.”

The Board will also receive a comprehensive staff presentation on existing tenant protections under federal and state law, including the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and California Fair Employment and Housing Act, building on Article XVIII’s provisions that “Harassment is Prohibited” and that “No Landlord may threaten to bring, or bring, an action to recover possession, cause the Tenant to quit the Rental Unit involuntarily.”

The meeting will be held Thursday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Pasadena City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249.

Members of the public can attend in person or participate remotely via Zoom. In-person attendees can submit speaker cards before public comment periods. Virtual participants can join through the Zoom link provided in the agenda or by phone at 1-669-900-6833 (Meeting ID: 898 165 902 99).

The meeting allows for public comment on agenda and non-agenda items, with comments limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written correspondence can be submitted prior to the meeting via email to rentalboard@cityofpasadena.net.