ACTION Apartment Association

Rent Board Announces 2.8 Percent Rent Increase

05/12/2023 8:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board on Tuesday announced a mandated 2.8 percent annual rent increase starting on September 1.

The increase is based on a formula dictated by the Rent Control Charter that sets the amount at 75 percent of the Consumer Price index for the 12-month period ending as of March.

Council Approves Agreement That Removes 'Builder's Remedy' Projects

05/11/2023 10:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday approved a settlement agreement that will avert a lengthy legal battle over an untested development policy and scale back nearly a dozen projects that could have been built largely outside the City's control.

The 7 to 0 vote came as Santa Monica's largest developer -- WS Communities -- threatened to proceed with 14 "builder's remedy" projects' totaling nearly 4,200 units if the Council didn't greenlight the proposed settlement before midnight ("WS Could Pull 13 'Builder's Remedy' Projects Under Proposed Settlement Agreement," May 5, 2023).

In first increase since ballot box revolt, Rent Control Board proposes a 2.8% increase

05/10/2023 11:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Rent Control Board will meet this week to determine allowable increases for rent controlled units and while the proposed figure is significantly higher than increases in recent history, it is less than half of the figure that roiled renters last year.

Rental increases in rent controlled units are established by a preset formula that limits rents to 75 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This year, the CPI comes in at 3.7 percent meaning increases will be capped at 2.8 percent for the next year. The Rent Control Board has the option to establish a dollar cap on those increases which is also determined by a preset formula and if they do implement the cap it would be a maximum of $67 per month on units already paying $2,375 a month or more.

SMCLC wants time to study Builders Remedy settlement

05/10/2023 11:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The proposed settlement with WS Communities (WSC) over 13 of its “builder’s remedy” project sites will have a huge impact on Santa Monica and its residents for generations to come. When the news broke last September that this developer had filed applications for 14 projects under a “builder’s remedy” statute to construct buildings as high as 20 stories and over 4000 units citywide there was widespread opposition. Residents urged the city to hire outside counsel and oppose these projects. https://smclc.net/DevIgnoreZoning10-17-22.html

In response, the City Attorney retained outside counsel who advised the City Council that there were good legal grounds to contest the filings once formal applications were filed, and one of his highest priorities was to keep the Council and the public informed.

In spite of this, last Thursday city staff placed a settlement item on the Council agenda for tomorrow’s Council meeting as though it were just a routine item.

Landlord Plans to Evict Hundreds of Tenants in Aging West LA Apartment Complex

05/09/2023 10:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The owner of the Barrington Plaza Complex is evicting all the tenants that live in the building, some of whom have lived there for decades.

The building itself has a history of life-threatening fires and is in serious need of renovations that could take several years to complete.

The complex's 577 occupied units were informed that with very limited exceptions they have four months to relocate.

Median Santa Monica Rents Increase In April

05/08/2023 12:10 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Median Rent In Santa Monica Increased by 0.8 Percent In April, Marking The Second Consecutive Monthly Increase After a Six-Month Decline.

WS Could Pull 13 'Builder's Remedy' Projects Under Proposed Settlement Agreement

05/08/2023 11:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The proposed settlement agreement gives WS "the option to suspend the BR Project applications, and, instead, file thirteen new multi-family housing projects that would qualify for ministerial approvals" under the City's Housing Element, according to City Attorney Doug Sloan.

If WS agrees, "the City would process the new applications on an expedited basis," and "the housing built by the owners will satisfy a significant portion of the City’s regional housing needs," Sloan wrote in his report to the Council.

SMa.r.t Column: Parking Wars

05/08/2023 11:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Mobility Landscape Has Started To Abruptly Change In Santa Monica Because Of New State Laws Banning Parking Minimums In New Developments.

EV Charging for Renters and Rental Property Owners

05/05/2023 9:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California state law (Civil Code section 1947.6) requires landlords to approve tenant requests to install EV charging stations in their dedicated parking spaces so long as the tenant is willing to pay for the charging station and associated costs, including installation and utility costs. However, there are several exceptions to this law, including properties where:

Landlords have installed EV charging stations in at least 10% of the designated parking spaces;
Tenants are not provided parking in their lease agreement;
There are fewer than five parking spaces; and
The unit is covered by a local rent control ordinance and a local EV charging station ordinance that was adopted on or before January 1, 2018.

Santa Monica's Homeless Numbers Rise After COVID-Driven Drop

05/05/2023 8:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A total of 926 individuals were counted during this year's homeless census in Santa Monica, an increase over last year but fewer than were counted in 2019, according to results released by the City Thursday.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2023/05/04/santa-monica-releases-2023-homeless-count-results-and-previews-recommended-approach-to-homelessness