Thousands of landlords and tenants in Pasadena received notices that their rental units are not registered with the Rent Stabilization Department’s Rental Registry and out of compliance with the city’s charter, officials said Wednesday.
Measure H, which Pasadena voters enacted in December 2022, requires property owners to register all rental units in the city’s Rental Registry. The Pasadena Rental Housing Board approved regulations that allow a tenant to withhold rent if a landlord does not register rental units.
The Rental Registry is a central database with information about all rental units subject to regulations aimed at maintaining stability in the rental housing market.
City spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said 1,430 Second Notice of Non-Compliance letters were mailed to landlords on May 1 and on May 8, a total of 6,815 Charter Information Sheet Notices and copies of the non-compliance letters were sent to tenants living in unregistered rental units.
These documents provide information on tenants’ right to file a Petition for Rent Withholding with the Rent Stabilization Department Hearings Division based on a landlord’s alleged noncompliance with registration requirements, according to a city statement. If authorized by a hearing officer, tenants may be allowed to withhold rent from their landlord and instead pay into an escrow account while their property remains unregistered.
Tenants who want to petition for rent withholding can find the forms, instructions and online filing portal on the Housing Department’s website under “Petitions and Hearings.”
City officials said “tenants should not withhold rent on their own. Tenants who want to exercise this right must follow the procedures in Chapter 9 of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board’s regulations.”
Tenants may only withhold rent with a hearing officer’s approval, directing the payment into an escrow account, officials said. During the hearing process, tenants must pay rent according to their lease or rental agreement.
“Even if such an order is issued, the Department cannot prevent landlords from pursuing legal actions against tenants, including eviction or unlawful detainer filings, or issuing an eviction notice for nonpayment of rent,” according to the city. “Therefore, tenants are strongly encouraged to seek legal advice or consult with a tenant representative before initiating the rent withholding process.”
Additional information and resources is online at CityOfPasadena.net/Rent-Stabilization.
