Despite Voter Rejection of Rent Control, LA County Board of Supervisors Continue Down Own Path


Voters in unincorporated County of LA also rejected Prop 10 and Rent Control

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite Los Angeles County voter’s rejection of Proposition 10 and rent control, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a moratorium on rent increases for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. On Tuesday, November 13, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, lead by Chairwoman Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, heard a measure intended to retroactively restrict rent increases starting September 11, 2018. The interim ordinance will not apply to single-family homes or rental units built after 1995, when Costa-Hawkins went into effect.

The rental increases moratorium will only apply to properties in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County where, over 60% of all housing units in are currently owner occupied and mostly single family homes. The 3% annual cap on rent increases would also impose a $1000 per day fine on property owners, yet the County has not fully revealed a timeline for implementation.

Beverly Kenworthy from the Los Angeles Coalition for Responsible Housing Solutions stated, “the voters in the unincorporated County rejected Proposition 10 and rent control by a significant margin. Clearly, the Board has made up their own minds regardless what their own constituents have made clear at the ballot box. Thus far, the Board of Supervisors have largely, rejected every proposal we have given them and now they are rejecting the voters.”

The Board of Supervisors heard public comment for over an hour, including many small property owners from throughout the County, yet no Supervisors said a single word prior to the 4-1 vote (Barger opposed). The motion for the moratorium was introduced in June, before the County’s own Tenant Protections Working Group even released its final report. With no discussion on the item, the Board approved the moratorium without a discussion of how the moratorium could be implemented, administrative structures or costs.

About the Los Angeles Coalition for Responsible Housing Solutions:
The Los Angeles Coalition for Responsible Housing Solutions includes housing and economic experts from across Los Angeles County. The Coalition has a broad membership reaching from the Antelope Valley to Long Beach and from Santa Monica to the San Gabriel Valley. We are small property owners, apartment associations, REALTORS®, commercial property managers and business associations. We seek an inclusive and productive dialogue between tenants and property owners. For more information, visit our www.LAhousingCoalition.com

Media Contact: Kian Kaeni 310-925-4078 or kian@ekapr.com