Check if Your Unit is Covered: Most rental units in Pasadena are covered by Pasadena’s new rent laws (Measure H). If your unit is covered, local laws limit the amount you can increase rents and have additional requirements around evictions. Check if your rental unit is covered under Pasadena’s rent laws by referring here or contacting a Housing Counselor.
Post Required Notices: For all rental units covered under Measure H, landlords must post a notice that provides information about the rent laws. The General Notice to Tenants can be found here. The notice must be posted in English and Spanish. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous location in the lobby of the Property, near a mailbox used by all Tenants, or in or near a public entrance to the property.
Calculate the Security Deposit: For tenancies commencing on or after July 1, 2024, most landlords may charge up to one month’s rent for the security deposit. Learn more about security deposits here.
Provide a Written Lease Agreement: It is recommended that landlords provide a written lease agreement outlining all agreed-upon conditions of tenancy. The lease or rental agreement should include all housing services that are included as part of the term of tenancy and included in the Rent (i.e. parking, utilities, laundry).
[If you are a new property owner] Register your unit and pay fees:
Business License Fee: All owners of multifamily residential rental properties with three or more units must register and obtain a license to operate their rental unit(s) with the City of Pasadena’s Multi-family Rental Inspection Program. The 2023-2024 fiscal year fee is $62 per unit.
Rental Registration: Owners of rental property covered by the Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment must register their units in the Rental Registry. The registry collects basic data about the rents, property information, and property owner. The Rental Registry is currently estimated to launch in June 2024. Please continue monitoring the Rent Stabilization Department website for the most up to date information
Rental Housing Fee: Owners of rental property covered by the Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment must also register their units and pay an annual Rental Housing Fee for each unit. The fee and due date will be announced in conjunction with the launch of the Rental Registry. It is the owner's responsibility to renew the business license and pay the Rental Housing Fee on time. Owners may not pass on the fee costs to tenants.
Consequences for Failing to Register: Failure to pay the Rental Housing Fee or register the unit in the Rental Registry may restrict the landlord’s rights to increase rents and/or evict tenants.
Understand the Annual Allowable Rent Increase: If your rental property is covered under the rent control provisions of Pasadena’s Charter, rent increases are capped at 75% of the increase in the Consumer Price Index. For the period from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, that amount is 2.75%. Landlords may only take one rent increase in a 12-month period with written notice.
Tenant Move-Out Checklist
Provide Proper Notice: If you are terminating a tenancy, provide proper notice to the tenant(s). Consult the Just Cause Eviction Info Sheet for information on notice requirements.
Relocation Assistance. Where applicable, make sure to comply with the requirements to provide tenant(s) with Relocation Assistance and services.
Provide a Pre-Move Out Inspection: The landlord must give the tenant written notice of the tenant’s right to request an initial inspection of the rental to take place during the last 14 days of the tenancy, and to be present during the inspection.
Return Security Deposit: Under state law, the landlord needs to send the deposit, or an itemized list along with the balance of the security deposit, to the tenant within 21 days after move out (Civil Code 1950.5). For more information about security deposits, consult the Security Deposit Info Sheet.
Return Abandoned Personal Property: If tenants leave personal property behind, state law requires landlords to inventory the items left behind by the tenant and provide a notice to recoup the property. (Civil Code Sections 1980-1991) If the tenant doesn’t recoup the item within 2 days after they vacate, the landlord can charge the tenant the reasonable cost of storage for the items left behind.