HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2025 Item 5a, Worthy
Jane Worthy <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Don Weegar
Subject:October 28th Study Session Renter Protections
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
As SLO City rental housing providers, we're writing to share our perspectives on the City’s upcoming
discussion about renter protections and a potential rental registry.
Our rental homes represent a vital part of our retirement income. We experienced the quickly-repealed
“rental inspection program” and recall that it was 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 addressing the supply and demand problem.
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.
As for creating a “rental registry” why not add rental property addresses to your existing business license
database? We feel that including tenant names to any public-accessible database creates all kinds of
privacy issues.
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.
Please consider establishing a rental assistance program to directly help tenants in need rather than
adding bureaucracy?
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.
Jane Worthy and Don Weegar
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