Santa Monica Rent Control June 11, 2026

The City of Santa Monica Rent Control Board held its regular meeting on June 11, 2026, focusing on tenant rent decrease appeals, rent adjustment policies, and administrative matters. The board denied a late appeal regarding rent decreases and reversed a minor flooring-related rent decrease due to insufficient evidence. It affirmed rent decrease awards related to construction impacts but remanded a portion concerning amenities to the hearing officer for further determination. The board adopted a $70 ceiling on the 2026 general rent adjustment, affecting higher-rent units, and approved the fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget, which includes a $450,000 allocation for workspace renovations and maintains the registration fee at $240 per unit. Additionally, the board recommended three administrative charter amendments concerning commissioner term limits, registration fee framework adjustments with CPI indexing, and petition decision timelines for City Council consideration. The board also adopted regulation amendments to protect safety-sensitive information in hearing proceedings. Finally, the board discussed proposed tenant protection and just cause eviction charter amendments, directing staff to return with all proposals for a public hearing scheduled for June 25, 2026, including a request for comparative analysis with other jurisdictions. Public comments highlighted tenant harassment concerns and the need for stronger enforcement of tenant protections.