RENT FREEZE

November 27, 2018

On November 27, 2018, the Glendale City Council adopted an ordinance (“Ordinance”) imposing a 60-day rent freeze. The rent freeze commences on December 27, 2018 and expires on February 27, 2019 (“Rent Freeze Period”).

Generally, for tenancies commencing on or prior to September 18, 2018, the Ordinance will require landlords of multifamily units to limit the rents they charge during the Rent Freeze Period to no more than the rent they were charging for a unit on September 18, 2018. Any rent increases imposed during the Rent Freeze Period may not exceed 5% of the rent in effect on September 18, 2018. For tenancies commencing after September 18, 2018, rents may not exceed the rent at initial tenancy and any rent increase is subject to the same 5% limitation during the Rent Freeze Period. The landlord must comply with the notice requirements of state law to impose any rent increase.

Example:

If a landlord was charging rent of $1,000 per month for a unit on September 18, 2018 and a rent increase went into effect for that unit on October 1, 2018 for $1,200 per month, the landlord must roll back the rent during the Rent Freeze Period to $1,000 per month. The landlord may increase the rent during the Rent Freeze Period by as much as 5% resulting in a new maximum rent of $1,050/mo., provided it has given notice as required by state law.
Among others, the Ordinance exempts the following from the rent freeze:

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• Single Family Homes

• Condominiums or Townhomes

• Rental units that received a Certificate of Occupancy on or after February 1, 1995 

Unless extended, the Ordinance and the Rent Freeze expire on February 27, 2018.

The Council also directed City staff to prepare a right to lease ordinance which will include a requirement for landlords to offer tenants a one-year lease, non-binding hearings for certain rent increases, and the right for the tenant to receive relocation if rent increases exceed a specified percentage per year.