City housing officials reported that they have identified nearly 500 rental units with rent increases for which they want further information, and plan to contact tenants directly to verify the charges.
The Rent Stabilization Department will ask the Pasadena Rental Housing Board on Thursday to approve sending notices to tenants when landlord-reported rent increases don’t match registry data.
Staff from the department discovered approximately 480 units with rent increase discrepancies. That represents 7% of the roughly 6,800 rent increases reported in the current registration cycle.
The proposed notices would tell tenants three things: the rent increase amount their landlord reported, the lawful rent increase percentage allowed under the city’s rent control law, and how to file an appeal or reach a housing counselor.
Helen Morales, Executive Director of the Rent Stabilization Department, said the notices would be addressed to “resident” rather than by name.
The issue stems from Measure H, the rent control charter amendment Pasadena voters approved in November 2022. The measure took effect Dec. 22, 2022.
Under the charter, landlords must file a registration amendment within 30 days of any rent change. They must report current rent, the date of the last rent change and the amount.
Landlords who fail to comply substantially with registration requirements cannot impose the Annual General Adjustment rent increase.
Staff initially considered requiring landlords to submit copies of rent increase notices. But that approach inadvertently would have collected tenant names, which the department currently doesn’t gather.
The tenant notification system would cost more than collecting landlord notices, Morales said, adding costs would stay minimal since only discrepant cases would trigger notices.
The charter aims to promote neighborhood stability and housing affordability. It regulates excessive rent increases while ensuring landlords a fair return on investment.
The board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the City Council Chamber at City Hall.
Morales is seeking board direction on authorizing the standardized tenant notices. If approved, staff would return with formal proposed amendments to Chapter 9 of the board’s regulations.
The board previously amended Chapter 9 three times since adopting it in June 2024. The most recent change established late fees for rental registrations not in substantial compliance.
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