Pasadena Rental Housing Board to Vote on Rent Cap, Landlord Penalties

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board will convene Thursday evening to vote on a series of proposals, including a citywide rent cap and new enforcement measures targeting landlords who have failed to register their rental units as is required by city ordinance.

The board, formed through voter-approved Measure H, is considering a proposal to limit annual rent increases to 2.25 percent for all eligible rental units citywide. If approved, the cap would take effect Oct. 1. Tenant advocates and property owners alike are expected to closely monitor the outcome.

Also on the agenda is a proposal to implement a tiered system of late fees for landlords who are delinquent or not in substantial compliance with Pasadena’s annual rental registration requirements. The measure signals a move toward stricter enforcement of the city’s rent stabilization ordinance.

Additional items include proposed amendments to Board regulations concerning remedies for unlawful rent, along with the removal of certain escrow account and rent withholding provisions. These changes aim to clarify and strengthen the city’s tenant protection framework.

The move toward stricter regulation is coupled with an effort to ensure compliance through education. To support this, the city’s Rent Stabilization Department will host a workshop for landlords on Aug. 12. The session is designed to help property owners prepare for the upcoming annual rental registration period, which runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, and will provide step-by-step guidance on navigating the system.

The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 in the Council Chamber at Pasadena City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue Room S249. The full agenda is available at the Pasadena Rental Housing Board Agenda Packet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/pasadena-rental-housing-board/past-agendas/.