Yesterday, the California legislature took an important step in passing AB1482 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-SF), the strongest anti-rent-gouging bill in the country. Governor Newsom has already indicated that he will sign the measure.
Under the measure, most yearly rent increases will be limited to no more than 5%, plus inflation, and the new law will provide much greater protections for tenants from being evicted without cause. Tenants across the region and the state, estimated at more than eight million renters, would be protected by this measure, eliminating very large rent increases that have pushed some tenants out of their homes and neighborhoods, sometimes without having any other options for housing.
This is a significant victory for tenant rights. It was made possible by the hard work of faith-based organizations and labor unions that worked with a broad coalition of organizations and other interests, including developers and business leaders, who ultimately supported this measure. AB1482 is part of a broad effort to pass legislation to address the severe housing challenges across the state. This package of legislation will protect tenants, prevent homelessness, and expand the production and preservation of housing, as part of the so-called “3Ps” solution to the region’s and state’s housing challenge. Measures on production and preservation are also expected to be passed and signed by the Governor.
“The housing challenge is fundamentally a question about who belongs. We believe that all Californians deserve a place to call home that allows them to connect with their families and their community, and to build a better future regardless of their race or zip code,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. “Getting there means bringing together all the voices that need to be heard. That’s what we have seen here. When people with differing interests come together to work through their differences and build on their strengths, great things can happen. Congratulations to everyone who contributed their time and energy to this terrific outcome. This is just a start, but it’s a very important one.”
