The Pasadena Rental Housing Board amended several regulations in response to the Eaton Fire, city officials announced Wednesday.
The deadly blaze devastated communities in Pasadena and Altadena in January, claiming 17 lives and destroying nearly 10,000 structures.
Officials said the adjustments to housing rules, which the board approved last month, aim to provide additional protections to displaced residents, ensure stability for landlords and tenants and facilitate the recovery process.
Temporary protections for additional occupants and pets
The housing board has issued a moratorium for evictions of tenants who are sheltering displaced Eaton Fire victims or their pets. This amendment extends protections beyond Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which expired March 8, that banned evictions for sheltering displaced people but did not apply to displaced pets.
Under the board’s amendment, tenants who rent “covered” units can’t be evicted for housing unauthorized occupants or pets if they are providing shelter to victims of the Eaton Fire victims, officials said. The protections will remain in effect for 90 days following the board’s approval effective Feb. 28.
“Tenants must provide proof of displacement, including but not limited to utility bills, mail, veterinarian records, photos, social media posts, emails, text messages, or official structure assessment maps listing the previous residence as destroyed or red-tagged,” according to a city statement.
Short-term rentals amendment
Also in response to the Eaton Fire’s ongoing impacts, the city has extended temporary housing protections for displaced residents staying in hotels, motels, inns and similar lodging.
From March 8 through May 1, these accommodations will not be classified as “covered rental units.” Individuals forced to relocate because of the wildire and are paying a hotel or motel’s transient occupancy tax “or have a written agreement under Pasadena Municipal Code Section 4.44.020 will retain their transient occupant status during this period,” officials said.
Temporary rent reductions without affecting base rent rates
To facilitate recovery efforts, the PRHB has allowed landlords to temporarily lower rent for fire-impacted tenants while preserving their right to restore rent to its previous amount without it being considered a new rent increase.
Officials highlighted these key provisions:
- “Landlords and tenants may agree to a temporary rent reduction through a Voluntary Agreement, provided no other lease terms are modified.
- “After the agreement ends, the landlord may restore rent to the prior lawful amount without it counting as a new rent increase under Article XVIII.
- “Annual General Adjustments (AGAs) will be based on the rent amount before the Voluntary Agreement was executed.
- “If the Voluntary Agreement lasts at least 13 months, landlords can still apply AGAs that take effect during that period after the agreement ends.”
Landlords must notify tenants at least 30 days before restoring rent to its higher rate. Sample notice forms will be available from the Pasadena Rent Stabilization Department.
“Landlords must file copies of the Voluntary Agreement and Notice of Return to Prior Rent with the Department within seven days of execution and tenant notification, respectively,” according to the city.
Prorated registration fee refunds for destroyed properties
The housing board has approved a prorated refund of the 2024-25 annual registration fee for landlords who paid the fee and who lost rental units to the Eaton Fire. Each unit qualifies for a six-month refund of $61.43, or half of the $122.86 registration fee.
“These regulatory amendments reinforce Pasadena’s commitment to supporting both tenants and landlords in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire,” according to the city statement. “By providing temporary eviction protections, clarifying short-term rental rules, allowing flexible rent adjustments, and issuing prorated registration fee refunds, the PRHB aims to facilitate a smoother recovery for the community.”
For more details, visit the Rent Stabilization Department online at cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization or email RentStabilization@CityofPasadena.net.
