March 15, 2019
Oregon, California’s neighbor to the north, recently instituted statewide Rent Control. See Blog post 3.3.2019. Perhaps, California has the political will to keep up with the neighbors and provide renters relief from soaring rents and no cause evictions. Beware. The real estate industry will throw every resource, mainly money and lobbying, to bring some equity into the rental housing market.
Excerpted from San Francisco Chronicle 3.15.2019
SACRAMENTO — The push to expand rent control in California returned to life in the Legislature on Thursday, just months after state voters overwhelmingly rejected an initiative that would have removed barriers to new tenant protection laws.
“The rent is too damn high. It’s time for us to act,” Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, said at a Capitol news conference.
Gov. Gavin Newsom told lawmakers in his State of the State address last month, “Get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it.”
A group of Democratic legislators introduced bills to cap annual rent increases statewide, prevent evictions without just cause and return to cities the authority to adopt rent control ordinances for newer homes and apartments.
Supporters said urgent action is needed to address what has become a statewide emergency, as families face soaring housing prices and the prospect of homelessness. About half of California renter households spend more than 30 percent of their income on shelter, which experts consider to be a cost burden, according to U.S. census estimates. More than a quarter spend at least half their income on housing.
