Santa Monica Rent Control August 13, 2026

The City of Santa Monica Rent Control Board held its regular meeting on August 13, 2026, focusing primarily on tenant and landlord issues related to rent control and housing stability. Key procurement-related discussions included appeals and decisions on owner-occupancy exemption applications and construction-related impact cases. The board approved several owner-occupancy exemption applications after reviewing evidence of residency and ownership. They also affirmed a hearing officer's decision denying tenant appeals for rent decreases related to construction impacts, noting the landlord's efforts to mitigate disruptions during necessary repairs. Additionally, the board upheld a decision regarding an excess rent petition where a tenant was charged for sub-metered electricity, concluding that such charges did not constitute rent under the law. No new contracts or budget allocations were discussed, but the meeting addressed policy enforcement and compliance issues affecting landlord-tenant relations and rent control regulations.