HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/24/2026 Item 4a, Nowinski
Joanna Nowinski <
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.
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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.
Joanna Nowinski
Century 21 Masters
DRE# 01985606
805.470.9938
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