Baldwin Park housing officials still don’t know what the city’s current rent control caps are

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The backstory: Last year, LAist reported on the lack of clarity over rent increase limits in Baldwin Park. In response to our coverage, city officials updated their guidance to landlords and tenants, saying increases in rent-controlled housing would be limited to 3.9% between Aug. 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025. Now, more than three months after that end date, they have yet to update their guidance with a new limit.

Where the confusion is coming from: The city's rent stabilization ordinance stipulates that annual rent hikes will never go above 5%. But they can be lower, depending on government measures of inflation. The local ordinance fails to specify which month of inflation data sets the limit for the upcoming year, a standard feature in most local rent control laws.

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What city officials are saying: LAist asked Baldwin Park housing officials how the city could expect landlords and renters to follow the law when even city officials don’t know what the law requires. Ryan Mulligan, a Baldwin Park housing manager, said a new ordinance will be prepared for the City Council to consider later this month.

“The city of Baldwin Park is in the process of updating its rent stabilization ordinance to ensure it aligns with recent changes in state housing laws and reflects current community needs,” Mulligan wrote to LAist in an email. “The city’s goal is to provide a fair, balanced and legally sound framework that protects tenants while offering clarity for property owners.”

How other cities do it: Local caps on rent hikes are easy to find on some other city websites. However, the rules can be difficult to parse, even when information on the current caps is readily available. That’s why LAist has updated its guide to rent hikes in Los Angeles and Orange counties. You can find information about your city’s approach to rent control and whether your building is covered at this link.