HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/24/2026 Item 4a, Aminilari
Shahin Aminilari <shahin4homes@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, 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.
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