After LAist reporting, Baldwin Park posts current rent control limits on city website

A few hours after LAist first reported on Baldwin Park’s failure to inform residents about a local rent control policy, city officials posted a new page on the city’s website outlining current rent increase limits.

LAist spent nearly a week pressing Baldwin Park officials for answers on the basic question of how much landlords can legally raise rents under the city’s rent control ordinance, which the city council originally passed in late 2019.

Clarity on Baldwin Park’s rent caps 

Before the update, one rent control link on the city’s website claimed the limit was 3% while another said it was 5%.

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Now, the new page on Baldwin Park’s website says landlords can raise annual rents in covered housing units by no more than 3.8% during the year beginning on Aug. 1, 2023. A new limit of 3.9% will take effect on Aug. 1, 2024 and last through July 31, 2025. This limit is based on the local consumer price index reported in April of each year.

The website says the rent hike caps apply to all rental housing units in the city built before Jan. 1, 1995, with some exceptions for properties including single-family homes, condos and owner-occupied duplexes.

Tenant advocates say there’s still outreach to be done

“The new webpage is a huge improvement and a helpful resource for landlords and tenants,” said Ryan Bell, a tenant advocate and chair of Pasadena’s Rental Housing Board. “My hope is that the city will keep going and conduct robust outreach to tenants and landlords alike to make sure this information is widely understood.”

Baldwin Park officials told LAist they plan to conduct outreach to tenants and landlords about the current limits, and make the information available in Spanish and other languages.

Rev. Zachary Hoover — executive director of the multi-faith community group L.A. Voice, which advocated for passage of Baldwin Park’s rent control policy — said cities ought to be going above and beyond to ensure that residents have the information they need to know their rights and comply with the law.

“I'm glad they've responded to the problem and corrected it,” Hoover said. “I wish it hadn't taken the prodding.”