Not all agree with Santa Cruz’s temporary housing ordinances

Real estate is notoriously expensive in Santa Cruz and the city took a proactive step to protect renters.

A day after the city council passed two ordinances freezing rent increases and requiring ‘Just Cause’ for tenant evictions, landlords are pulling out of deals in the city.

“We did have one client that based upon the concerns over the ‘Just Cause’ eviction portion of the decisions made last night, is looking at canceling a transaction for a multiple unit property,” said real estate broker Robert Bailey.

Real estate agents said having a ‘Just Cause’ ordinance means landlords will have more bureaucratic hoops to jump through, and it’s taking away their freedom to choose who to put in their homes.

The city has its reasons: A group of residents is trying to put a rent stabilization measure on the November ballot. While they collect signatures, city officials don’t want landlords to take preemptive actions and unfairly raise rent or evict tenants before anything is set in stone.

Steve Pleich supports the city as it looks for a long-term housing fix.

“We are in a rental crisis here in Santa Cruz, and that requires everybody, renters and landlords included, to really come together and contribute to the solution here,” Pleich said.

Property owners said they are on board to help, as real estate is a relationship-based business and they need good tenants, but they can’t be the solution to Santa Cruz’s housing problem.

“The housing crisis is not going to be taken care of by rent control. The housing crisis will only be taken care of when we build more houses,” said Renee Mello, president of the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors.

Mello said the city took a step toward restricting property rights. She and her colleagues are now gathering forces to fight the rent control ordinance that might come on the ballot in November.