Pasadena Rental Housing Board Adopts Rental Registry Regulations

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board approved regulations for the City’s Rental Registry Monday night, setting the stage for the possible launch of the long-awaited database in August. The move marks a significant step in implementing the City’s voter-approved Measure H rent control measure, now known as Article XVIII of the City Charter.

The Board approved Chapter 9 of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board Regulations, which establishes requirements and procedures for registering covered rental units. It also outlines remedies for landlords who fail to comply with registration requirements, including notices of non-compliance and a petition for rent withholding.

“We keep talking about sometime in August,” said Phillip Leclair, the interim director of the Rent Stabilization Department, regarding the launch date. 

He noted that the Department is in the process of rigorous testing of the system.

The regulations define what constitutes proper registration and substantial compliance for landlords. They also provide procedures for determining exemptions and objecting to the Department’s decisions on exemptions.

Board Members debated whether to include additional information requirements for landlords, such as disclosing ownership of other properties in Pasadena. Some argued this data would be valuable for future policymaking.

“If I want to find out who are the 50 largest landlords in Pasadena, what do they own, where do they own it, how many units do they own? I think we should have that information at our fingertips,” said Board Member Peter Dreier.

However, staff recommended against adding this requirement for the initial launch. They cited concerns about delaying implementation and the need for further consultation with the database vendor. The Board discussed the possibility of adding these requirements in future iterations of the registry.

Board Member Brandon Lamar also suggested including information about property accessibility for individuals with disabilities in the Registry, which the Board agreed to consider for future updates.

The Board also voted to recommend changes to the City Charter’s provisions on penalties for violating rent control laws to the City Council for inclusion on the November ballot. The amendments aim to clarify administrative and criminal consequences for violations.

Leclair said the Department is developing a comprehensive communications plan to educate landlords and tenants about the new Registry system.

The adoption of the rental registry regulations represents a major milestone in Pasadena’s efforts to implement its rent control measure, passed by voters in 2022. It sets the stage for increased oversight and data collection on the City’s rental housing market.

The Registry’s completion comes months after a missed Dec. 22, 2023, deadline set by Measure H, which was approved by Pasadena voters in November 2022. The Measure, now Article XVIII of the Pasadena City Charter, mandated the Registry’s creation and set that specific deadline.

Earlier this month, the Pasadena Rental Housing Board recommended and the City Council approved removing mention of the deadline from the City Charter amendment’s language as one of several changes to the amendment that will go before voters in November.

Bhyv, a consultant, performed the Registry setup work. Last July, the Rental Housing Board approved a $425,000 contract with Bhyv for a range of services, including creating the Registry.

In an update on the Rental Registry system provided to Pasadena Now on June, Leclair said “Bhyv Consultants have played a key role in its design, project management, and administrative support. Their work on the system and implementation guidance is nearing completion, fulfilling their contractual obligations.”

Leclair reported that Department staff is about to begin thorough testing of the new system.

Additionally, Departmental training to equip staff to administer the system and provide technical and administrative support to landlords will begin soon, he said.

Following successful system testing and staff training, the Rent Stabilization Department will move to the launch of the Registry. 

Earlier in the Wednesday, June 26 meeting, landlords had expressed concerns about the scope and impact of the rent control measure itself, calling for exemptions for smaller properties and changes to the Board’s composition to include more landlord representation.