HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-17-2016 Item 21, SLO U40 Honorable Mayor and Council,
We the SLO U40 support the goals of the Rental Housing Inspection Program, but have concerns about
the program design that cause us to oppose the program unless revised.
In San Luis Obispo, residents under 40 make up more than half of the population. SLO U40 is a growing
group of residents who are activating the civic and political power of SLO’s under-40 community in order
to shape our community’s future in a way that recognizes and honors our specific needs and challenges.
Of the more than 170 members of our group, approximately 50 attended our Rental Housing
Inspection Program forum May 11, where we explored the topic with Mayor Jan Marx and Council
member Dan Rivoire and generated consensus on our position.
The following is what we have decided:
The SLO U40 membership is supportive of the stated goals of the program and we believe revisions to
the program’s basic approach are necessary to ensure it achieves its goals while avoiding the
unintended consequences of its current design - deepening the housing market crisis we're currently
facing and adversely affecting those that have the least among us - namely lower/fixed income
residents, students, and the many of us who are living on the edge of affordability in San Luis Obispo.
SLO U40 has offered a list of possible program design elements – emailed to council prior to this
meeting - that attempt to address the weaknesses in the current program design and shift the burden
from all renters onto landlords who operate irresponsibly. We want to see the program’s basic
principles focus on empowering and supporting renters while making it very expensive to be an
irresponsible landlord in San Luis Obispo.
In addition, we'd like to see a number of market-related metrics added to the inspection and review
process that gauge the program's impact on housing availability and rents. Meaningful data will
ultimately confirm or refute our current concerns about the program's affect and will empower council
with the information you need to decide how this program should change when it comes up for review
again. We are also concerned that only seven inspections have been completed prior to this review and
request an additional program review once 100 inspections have been completed, giving us a more
substantial data set to evaluate. Specific additional metric requests have also been included in the email
to council.
SLO U40 wants to thank our city council for making it a priority to address the important issues of renter
victimization, health and safety, and property renewal. We're hopeful this review opens up new
opportunities to collaborate with you on program revisions that will ultimately enhance safety,
affordability, and quality of life for the 60-plus percent of city residents who rent.
Highest regards,
SLO U40
RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM - POTENTIAL REVISIONS
Principle: Support data driven decision making.
Add metrics to evaluate impacts on renters, rental housing availability, and rents.
Inspection metrics:
• Number of renters displaced from home due to inspection
• Inspection type – proactive landlord/ code enforcement priority
Market related metrics:
• Average rents/room
• Rents change year-over-year. Use previous 3 pre-program years as baseline
• Vacancy change year-over-year
Principle: Empower and Support Renters
Renter Rights:
• Renters receive information on rights and responsibilities at time of lease signing / renewal
• On annual basis, require submission to city of a habitability checklist reviewed and signed by
renters and landlords
Renter Empowerment:
• Create “Renter Resource Center” funded by SLO City, Cal Poly, and Associated Students (ASI)
• Create renter advocate resources in attorney’s office at SLO City and Cal Poly
• Create renter legal action fund
• Expand SLO Solutions renter and landlord mediation services
• Provide Whistle Blower cash incentive to renters who report major health and safety violations
Principle: Make it very expensive to be an irresponsible landlord in SLO City.
Actions against offending irresponsible landlords:
• Health and safety violations over a certain threshold at one property result in inspection of all
landlord’s properties
• Proven retaliatory actions result in inspection of all landlord’s properties
• Use enforcement staff and resources to target inspections of irresponsible landlords’ properties
• Fine offenders accordingly to pay for program costs