Rent Stabilization Program – Renters Alliance

City Appoints Nestor Otazu New Deputy Director for Rent Stabilization

May 30, 2023June 15, 2023 Mark Elliot Nestor Otazu, Rent Stabilization Program

City of Beverly Hills has appointed Nestor Otazu, longtime manager of the Community Preservation division, as the new deputy director of the rent stabilization division. Otazu fills the vacancy that opened after the city dispatched the former deputy director in February. For Otazu this represents a step up in the city’s organization chart as he moves from management to senior management. What does this appointment mean for rent stabilization and the tenants who rely on it?

Explainer

Qualified Tenant Subsidy: Help When the Rent Is Too Damned High

December 28, 2018June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Julian Gold, qualified tenant subsidy, Rent Stabilization Program, Robert Wunderlich

One of the ideas to emerge from the City Council’s rent stabilization discussion concerns a ‘qualified tenant’ benefit. Those who pay too much in household income for rent could find relief from the city. An estimated 400 households could qualify under the program. The objective: to cushion rent increases with a cash subsidy. Councilmember Bob Wunderlich proposed to target rent stabilization protections to tenants “who really need it.” What’s it all about?

Process

RSO Study Session #1: Council Gets to Work!

October 16, 2018June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot duplex exemption, John Mirisch, Julian Gold, Lester Friedman, Lili Bosse, max increase, recap, rent banking, Rent Stabilization Program, Robert Wunderlich, RSO study session

City Council held its first rent stabilization ‘study session’ last Thursday. This is the latest step in a 18-month policy process to amend the rent stabilization ordinance. The session suggested what a final rent stabilization ordinance might look like: relocation fee schedule, exempted properties and more. However key issues — and the process itself — is still up for negotiation!

HR&A Advisors presentation to city council

News

HR&A Advisors Rent Stabilization Issue Presentations

August 10, 2018July 15, 2024 Mark Elliot HR&A Advisors, Rent Stabilization Program

Beverly Hills consultant HR&A Advisors in 2018 released a set of issue papers commissioned to inform the City Council and the public about the key rent stabilization issues up for discussion. The consultant presentation, along with issue memos, was delivered to City Council on August 7, 2018. We present that video here The City Council discussion, preceded by public comments, follows the presentation.

Commentary

Establishing Expectations is a Two-Way Street!

June 20, 2018June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot communications, Community Education Workshops, Rent Stabilization Program

City Council kicked-off our extended rent stabilization reform discussion in January of 2017 without much discussion about policy goals. Councilmembers heard plenty from tenants about rising rents, capricious landlords and predatory practices, but no specific objective for rent stabilization was identified. Well the Rent Stabilization Program has found one…but it needs revision!

News

Director of Rent Stabilization Program is Appointed

May 23, 2018July 5, 2024 Mark Elliot Helen Morales, Rent Stabilization Program

City of Beverly Hills has hired a director for our new Rent Stabilization Program. Helen Morales comes to Beverly Hills after a 10-year career as a manager, hearing officer and housing investigator at City of Los Angeles. She comes to us after an eight month search. Her first day was a week ago, yet no press release or website announcement mentioned it. (A press release was belatedly posted this week.) This is what we know.

News

Community Development Director Healy Keene Interview

November 18, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Rent Stabilization Commission, Rent Stabilization Program, Susan Healy Keene

While we wait for the city’s new consultant to get on the job, we have a lot of questions about the next steps in the rent stabilization policy process, the possible tenant-landlord committee, and in general about the administration of the new Rent Stabilization Program. Community Development Director Susan Healy Keene oversees the new program and generously took her time to answer our questions this morning.

Explainer

My Landlord is Asking for an Estoppel. Need I Sign It?

July 16, 2024July 29, 2024 Mark Elliot

An estoppel certificate is a legal document that simply establishes the terms and status of a rental agreement (or lease) for a third party like a prospective buyer. Typically a tenant is asked to complete an estoppel when purchase negotiations advance and that request may come from the current owner or an agent working on behalf of a prospective buyer. It is nothing to fear; it is a standard step in the sale of real property. In any case the lease or rental agreement may require the tenant to complete it. When presented with an estoppel to complete and sign you may have questions. Here is what you need to know.

Explainer