HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2025 Item 5a, Ryn
Irene Ryn <ireneryn@ymail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, AM
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San Luis Obispo has already tried a rental inspection program, and it was ultimately repealed after proving costly, inefficient, and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 many 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.
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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.
Best wishes,
Irene Ryn
Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker Realty
805 441 6367
Irene@RynRealEstate.com | RynRealEstate.com
CalRE # 01304231
Serving the Central Coast
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