HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/24/2026 Item 4a, Crooks
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
Janice Crooks <janicegcrooks@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, February
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Rental Registry Study Session 4a
Dear Mayor Stewart and City Council,
I am a local real estate professional writing ahead of Tuesday’s study session on the
potential creation of a rental registry.
I care deeply about safe housing, strong neighborhoods, and the long term health of San
Luis Obispo’s housing market. Every day I work with renters, housing seekers and
providers. I appreciate the City taking time to study this issue before considering any formal
program.
As you consider a rental registry, I respectfully ask the Council to pause and ensure there is
clear, objective data demonstrating that a new program is truly necessary and that it would
meaningfully solve a defined problem.
We understand there is strong advocacy and pressure around renter issues, and those
voices deserve to be heard. At the same time, new regulations should be grounded in clear
evidence and a demonstrated need.
In San Luis Obispo, there are approximately 8,000 or more professionally managed rental
units. These properties already operate under strict management standards, existing
health and safety laws, and state regulations, and they are not an identified source of
systemic problems.
California already has strong statewide tenant protections in place. State law limits annual
rent increases for most rental housing and includes just cause eviction requirements,
creating a comprehensive framework that applies across our community.
It is also important to note that rental registries are relatively uncommon across California.
Of the roughly 35 cities that have adopted rental registries, fewer than 10 percent of
California cities overall, 31 of those cities also have rent control or formal rental inspection
programs in place. This suggests registries are typically implemented as part of broader
regulatory frameworks and a first step to rent control, not as standalone programs.
Many local rental homes are owned by small, local housing providers who have invested
their savings and retirement into these properties. When new layers of regulation, fees, and
administrative requirements are introduced, some owners will decide it is no longer worth
remaining in the rental market. Others may delay maintenance or reinvestment due to
rising costs and uncertainty. Fewer rental homes and reduced reinvestment ultimately lead
to higher rents and less housing availability.
City policies should focus on encouraging investment, maintenance, and streamlining the
creation of more housing, while using existing tools to address bad actors and safety
concerns.
Before moving forward, I urge the City to:
- Clearly identify the specific problems a registry is intended to solve and how success
would be measured
- Evaluate whether existing enforcement tools, education, and outreach could address
concerns without creating new regulatory layers
- Fully assess long term administrative costs and staffing needs
We all share the goal of safe, stable housing. Please take a careful, balanced, and data
driven approach as you consider whether a rental registry is truly the right tool for our
community.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Crooks
Broker Associate
1
Comet Realty
DRE #01974059
805.704.8089
2