ACTION Apartment Association

How to screen tenants fairly and stay compliant as a small landlord

01/30/2026 2:21 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Understanding how to screen tenants fairly while staying compliant with all applicable laws doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools, knowledge, and processes, you can confidently evaluate applicants, select qualified tenants, and protect yourself from legal liability, RentRedi reports.

SM.a.r.t Column: Santa Monica’s Housing Push—and the Ethics Crisis Behind It

01/30/2026 2:17 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At the center of the controversy is a formal ruling by California’s political watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). The FPPC ordered City Councilmember Jesse Zwick to completely recuse himself from all housing- and zoning-related matters.

City Sues Landlords for $18 Million

01/29/2026 9:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Attorney's office last week sued the owners of 28 Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment buildings who allegedly made $18 million illegally renting units as short-term rentals.

According to the lawsuit filed in Superior Court Thursday, for more than five years the defendants have rented at least 62 units in at least 25 properties to short-term guests nearly 3,000 times.

What Is in the Airport Housing Initiative

01/27/2026 11:32 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Great Park and Community Housing Initiative submitted to the City Clerk this month seeks to create 3,000 units of "permanently affordable housing" on Airport land that, in many cases, would rival or exceed current market rates.

The detailed, and complicated, 11-page initiative -- which has the support of Santa Monica's two most powerful political organizations -- sets costs and eligibility requirements based on LA County income levels.

Two Ballot Measures Filed

01/26/2026 8:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Last Thursday the Great Park and Community Housing Initiative was submitted, followed this Tuesday by the Citizens United Ordinance to Preserve City Funding of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), said Interim City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren.

The other initiative, which requires a simple majority vote at the polls, was filed by proponents of developing affordable housing at the Santa Monica Airport after it is slated to close at the end of 2028.

Council to Consider Parcel Tax Measure

01/26/2026 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The potential $540-per-parcel tax would raise an estimated $12 million a year to "maintain funding for homelessness, firefighters, 911 emergency services, and libraries," according to the recommended ballot language.

Council Casts Differing Votes on Previous Housing Actions

01/26/2026 8:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council last week repealed a housing-related measure, reapproved another and sent a third back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration.

Two of the measures -- which were opposed by slow-growth activists and many homeowners -- expanded State laws that allow multifamily units to be built in single-family neighborhoods.

SM.a.r.t Column: Why Go Beyond?

01/16/2026 3:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Why is this Council going beyond the already transformative state laws on housing density?

City Extends Developer Perks for Off-Site Affordable Housing

01/16/2026 3:36 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Approved as an emergency ordinance by the Council in August, the program -- which is meant to kick-start construction in a tough financial market -- met its original applicant quota in its first week.

On Tuesday, the Council voted 4 to 1 to codify the 1,088 units accepted under the existing Affordable Housing Pilot Program (AHPP) and extended the program for eligible projects that total some 3,000 additional units.

‘Prisoner housing’ is on the table for Ocean Ave.

01/15/2026 11:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

CCSM said it did receive a letter from Pustilnikov regarding the purchase and evaluated it out of due diligence. However, they chose not to go forward with any deals, the organization did not need to sell properties to maintain operations and that it was not interested in selling any other property to Pustilnikov. CCSM also disputed the assertion that they had asked the city council to discuss the matter.