Santa Cruz County limits rent increases until state law kicks in
Santa Cruz County has adopted a temporary ban to limit annual rent increases and protect tenants until a new law goes into effect in January.
The Tenant Protection Act limits annual rent increases to 5 percent or 10 percent of the lowest gross rental rate for that unit–whichever is lower. AB 1482 also requires landlords to state a just cause in order to evict tenants.
Brenda Barnett, a Capitola resident, had been pushing her city council for an urgent ordinance to protect tenants like herself until January comes. She said that, in August, she received notice that her rent would be raised 70 percent. She would need a new place to live.
“I’m in a position where I can’t physically move myself, much less try to find something,” Barnett said. “But I can’t physically do it.”
The Capitola City Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening to consider implementing the just cause eviction requirement in advance of AB 1482, to ensure tenants are not evicted prior to the provisions taking effect.
