San Francisco pushes to repeal restrictive rent control law

In a recent government meeting, San Francisco officials introduced a resolution to support the Justice for Renters Act, a proposed measure for the November 2024 ballot aimed at repealing the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act. This act, established in 1995 by the California Association of Realtors, has long restricted local rent control efforts, significantly impacting the city's ability to address the ongoing housing affordability crisis.

The Costa Hawkins Act prevents cities from expanding rent control protections to include condominiums and exempts over 86,000 housing units built after June 1979 from rent control regulations. This has left many renters without essential protections, exacerbating the challenges faced by tenants in San Francisco. Additionally, the act prohibits vacancy control, which would allow cities to regulate initial rental prices, thereby enabling landlords to significantly increase rents after a tenant vacates a unit.

The resolution reflects a continued commitment by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to advocate for the repeal of Costa Hawkins, a stance previously supported through unanimous resolutions in 2017 and other efforts led by board members. The current push aims to empower local governments to implement stronger rent control measures, addressing the displacement of tenants and the rising costs of living that have contributed to gentrification in the city.