HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2025 Item 5a, Schalde
Stacey Schalde <
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. I am opposed to creating a
rental registry. Existing business license requirements for rentals are currently underutilized, and more
consistent enforcement would achieve many of the same goals as a registry without added costs or
privacy concerns.
Commitment to Safe, Habitable Housing
As REALTORS®, we are committed to promoting safe and habitable housing in our community. Every day,
we work with residents seeking both homeownership and rental opportunities, while also supporting
those who provide housing through investment properties. For many property owners, rental homes
represent a vital part of their retirement plan; 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. It was ultimately repealed after proving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 real issues affecting
problem properties.
Unnecessary Duplication of Existing Laws
California already has strong tenant protections through AB 1482 and state habitability laws. Local Code
Enforcement already possesses the tools to address unsafe housing conditions. Creating a new registry
only adds another layer of regulation without addressing the core 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
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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 “bad actors” will voluntarily register, making the proposed program ineffective for
its intended purpose. Instead, the City could:
Enforce the requirement for all rental property owners to obtain and maintain a valid business
license. Unfortunately, there are many rental property owners who do not have a business
license.
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 your commitment to addressing housing challenges in San Luis
Obispo. REALTORS® share that same commitment and stand ready to assist through education,
outreach, and collaboration to ensure safe and attainable housing for all residents.
Regards,
Stacey Schalde
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