Daly's Draconian Renters Relief Package Passes - Mayor veto coming

It's basically on Beven Dufty and Sophie Maxwell who does not have to vote for now...to make sure it does not end up in a veto-proof vote. I have no problem with certain aspects of rent control (although there's a decent argument that it hurts more than it helps) - but this measure weights all the burden, including the burden of proof on one end of the population so completely I cannot believe it's even legal. Sane people do not just think that a tenant who opts to work half time - or ends up with half their income coming from under the table is not going to apply for a reduction in rent and get it - with no recourse on the property owners part...uh, where's the sanity in that?

Oh yeah, it's a Daly proposal what was I thinking...calling for sanity.

Rent Plan Promises Relief - to Lawyers [SF Buisness Times]
Proposed Laws for SF Renters + Mayor Weighs In [SFHomeBlog]
Beware of Supervisors Bearing Gifts - Jeff Woo [SFGate]

Board to Vote on Daly's Renter's Relief Tuesday June 23rd

Supervisors Will Vote on Renters Economic Relief Package June 23. Vote Delayed Pending FPPC Decision on Maxwell Conflict. The Government Audit & Oversight Committee approved the Renters Economic Relief Package forward at its hearing on May 28 and forwarded it to the Board for a full vote on June 23. The committee adopted some amendments to the package, most significantly limiting the rent increase suspension to periods when the unemployment rate dips below 5%. The full Board vote was delayed to June 23, so that the Fair Political Practices Commission can issue a written decision as to whether or not Sup. Sophie Maxwell–a landlord who usually votes pro-tenant–can vote. Maxwell sought to be recused but there is some dispute as to whther or not she has a conflict of interest under state laws. If the legislation is to survive a Newsom veto, then Maxwell must be able to vote (and then vote for it). Maxwell is typically the 7th vote and Sup. Bevan Dufty would also haveto support it to reach the 8 votes needed to override a Mayoral veto.

The package of amendments to the city’s rent control law consists of three parts:

•Suspend any rent increases which will cause a tenant’s rent to exceed 33% of their income. This provision expands the law’s existing provision which enables the Rent Board to suspend rent increases based on “tenant hardship” by expanding when a tenant can apply for hardship and defining hardship as any rent increase which would cause a tenant’s rent to exceed 33% of their gross income.

•Expand the rights of tenants to add roommates to help pay the rent. This provision will let tenants bring in roommates so that the rent will be more affordable. The number of roommates would be limited by San Francisco Housing Code provisions which establish occupancy limits based on the size and number of bedrooms in an apartment. Currently landlords are able to limit the number of tenants to levels below what the law allows.

•Limit the amount of “banked” rent increases which can be imposed in any one year. Current law allows landlords, to “bank” annual rent increases and impose them all at once at a later date, often resulting in rent increases of 20% or more. This provision will limit these banked rent increases to no more than 8% in any one year.

Supervisors will vote on Renters Economic Relief Package [SF Tenants Union]
Proposed Laws for SF Renters + Mayor Weighs In [SFHomeBlog]
Beware of Supervisors Bearing Gifts - Jeff Woo [SFGate]

To Rent Control or Not to Rent Control - That is the Question - Prop 98 Heats Up

From today's SFGate,

Proposition 98 was written as a restriction on eminent domain that would prohibit the government from taking property for the benefit of a private party. Opponents say it would do far more: define "private" and "take" in terms so broad as to effectively overturn the state's approach to managing development and affordability.

The clause attracting the most attention is one that would ban government-imposed limits on what landlords can charge tenants. The change wouldn't affect existing leases, but once renters move out, property owners in cities with rent control laws, such as Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, no longer would have to limit price increases on those units. [more...]


Differing views on measure to end rent control [SFGate]
How Rent Control Drives out Affordible Housing [CatoInstitute]