HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2025 Item 5a, Townsend
brooketownsend <brooketownsend@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Wednesday, October
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:October 28th Study Session Renter Protections
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
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San Luis Obispo has already tried a rental inspection program, and it was ultimately repealed after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
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.
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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.
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