News & Announcements

2013 General Adjustment

Following a public hearing on June 13^th, the Rent Control Board decided not to impose a ceiling on the 1% General Adjustment (GA) for 2013, which takes effect September 1, 2013. The GA was announced in April per Measure GA and is based on 75% of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County Region for the 12 months ending March, rounded to the nearest tenth decimal place. The CPI increase in our region for the period ended March 2013 was 1.3%, and 75% of that is 0.975%, or 1% after rounding. Owners are not required to increase rents, but they must properly notice tenants regarding any increase. The Board will be sending a mailing soon to all owners and tenants explaining the allowed increases. Property owners and managers are also invited to attend a workshop on Tuesday, July 9^th regarding properly noticing tenants of the 2013 GA and surcharges. 

Rent Control Registration Fee

For the first time in seven years, the Rent Control Board voted June 13^th to increase the registration fee from $13.00 per month per unit to $14.58 but with no increase to the amount that tenants can be asked to pay. Owners who pay the annual registration fee by the due date of August 1^st may require qualifying tenants to pay $13 per month in addition to their controlled rents. 

Rent Control Agency Publishes 2012 Consolidated Annual Report

Rent Control's Spring Newsletter is in the Mail

You should have already received Rent Control's Spring Newsletter. This issue includes articles on separate agreements for charging electric vehicles, maintenance of common areas, the City's smoking law, recycling tips, and the schedule for upcoming Board meetings, public hearings and seminars. You can read it here or call Rent Control if you need a printed copy.

Designating rental units as “Smoking” or “Non-Smoking”: What you need to know

The Santa Monica City Council recently passed a law with new smoking rules for all multi-unit buildings. The new ordinance expands the City’s existing smoking laws. In essence, the law requires the following:  

• Starting January 21, 2013 all property owners and condo HOAs will be required to conduct a survey of current occupants.  
• All apartment and condo units in Santa Monica must be designated as either “smoking” or “non-smoking” units. If a unit is designated non-smoking, 

  no one

   (including guests, caregivers, new spouses or roommates) may smoke in the unit at any time. (NOTE: If a tenant does not designate their unit, smoking will be permitted until their tenancy ends.) 
• The apartment property owner or HOA must maintain a list specifying how the units are designated. 
• Tenants must respond by February 20, 2013.  
• Owners must notify occupants of the designations by March 22, 2013. 
• Tenants have until April 21, 2013 to make corrections or changes to their designations.
• By May 21, 2013, owners are required to distribute the final list to all occupants, plus the City information sheet on the law. 

The law provides penalties for smoking in a “non-smoking” unit. However, tenants cannot be evicted for such a violation unless it is also a violation of their rental agreement. For sample forms or additional information about the City’s smoking law, visit www.smconsumer.org, or call the City Attorney's Office, (310) 458-8336.