Kavanau v. Santa Monica Rent Control Board

Opinion

VOGEL (Miriam A.), J.

The issue in this case is whether the City of Santa Monica Rent Control Board’s absolute limitation on annual rental increases is constitutional as applied. Our answer is that it is not.

Facts

A

In 1979, the City of Santa Monica adopted a rent control charter amendment and created an elected Rent Control Board “empowered to regulate rentals ... so that rents will not be increased unreasonably and so that landlords will receive no more than a fair return.” Pursuant to the charter amendment, the Board adopted Regulations 4100 through 4111, a “maintenance of net…