HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/24/2026 Item 4a, Hansen
Gordon Hansen <slotopteam@aol.com>
Sent:Tuesday, February
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Rental Registry Study Session 4a
Dear City Council,
I am a local real estate professional of nearly 50 years writing about 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. My profession by nature deals daily with renters, hopeful homeowners and existing
landlords. 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 all understand there is strong advocacy and pressure around renter issues, and those voices deserve
to be heard. But any 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 strongly urge the City to:
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- 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
Sincerely,
Diane G. Hansen
Realtor Emeritus
308 Jeffrey Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
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