HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2025 Item 5a, Hudson
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
Sarah Hudson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:October 28th Study Session Renter Protections
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
As a local REALTOR® and housing professional, I’m writing to share my perspective on the
City’s upcoming discussion about renter protections and a potential rental registry.
As REALTORS®, we are committed to promoting safe, habitable housing in our community.
Every day, we work with residents seeking both homeownership and rental opportunities,
and we also support those who provide housing through investment properties. For many
property owners, rental homes represent a vital part of their retirement plan, while for
others, they are the foundation of a small business and livelihood.
Past Experience Shows It Does Not Work.
San Luis Obispo has already tried a rental inspection program, and it was ultimately repealed
after proving costly, inefficient, and unpopular with both renters and housing providers.
Bringing back a similar program under a new name risks repeating the same mistakes
without solving the problem properties.
Unnecessary Duplication of Existing Laws California already has strong tenant protections
through AB 1482 and state habitability laws. Local Code Enforcement already has the tools to
address unsafe housing conditions. Creating a new registry only adds another layer of
regulation without addressing the real issue—consistent enforcement of existing laws.
Privacy Concerns for Renters and Owners A rental registry would collect personal
information about both tenants and property owners, creating unnecessary privacy risks.
Even with the best intentions, this data could be mishandled or breached. Protecting personal
information should remain a top priority.
Costs Will Fall on Renters.
Any new fees or compliance costs will inevitably be passed down to tenants in the form of
higher rents. At a time when affordability is one of the City’s greatest challenges, adding new
costs runs directly counter to the goal of keeping housing attainable for our local workforce.
Better Alternatives.
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We do not expect that the “bad actors” will voluntarily register, which makes the proposed
program ineffective for its intended purpose. Instead, the City could: Use the existing business
license requirement, modifying it to require owners to list their rental properties.
Establish a rental assistance program to directly help tenants in need rather than adding
bureaucracy. In other jurisdictions, rental registries have often been the first step toward rent
control policies, which we strongly oppose. Rent control undermines private property rights,
discourages investment in housing, and ultimately reduces the supply of available rental
homes.
Thank you for considering the perspective of those who work on the front lines of housing
every day. We share your goal of ensuring safe, quality homes for San Luis Obispo residents,
but believe that effective enforcement, education, and partnership will achieve more than
additional regulation. Thank you for your service to the City and for your commitment to
addressing housing challenges in San Luis Obispo. REALTORS® share that same commitment
and stand ready to assist the City through education, outreach, and collaboration to ensure
safe and attainable housing for all residents.
-Sarah Hudson
"Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor on the Central Coast."
Sarah Hudson
REALTOR®, GRI®
Residential Relocation Specialist
DRE# 01953862
COMPASS
1131 Monterey St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Sarah@SarahHudsonRealEstate.com
C: 805-440-6188
www.compass.com
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