The impending election on November 5th isn’t just a time to vote for local leaders in California—it also holds significant housing issues that will be decided upon at the ballot box. Thirteen ballot measures across states and local jurisdictions will determine the fate of multifamily housing and landlord-tenant laws.
Below are key proposals to monitor during the upcoming elections:
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California: Proposition 33
- The Costa-Hawkins Rent Control Act in California currently prohibits rent control on residential properties built post-1995.
- Proposition 33 proposes to expand rent control to include single-family homes, limiting the amount landlords can charge, irrespective of rental history.
- While supporters argue for more stringent rent control laws due to the state’s unaffordable rents, critics fear it might deter future investments and construction, exacerbating the housing crisis.
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Local Measures in California and New Jersey
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Berkeley, California: Measures BB and CC
- BB calls for utilizing existing revenue for housing retention and homelessness prevention, removing some rent control exceptions, and capping rent increases at 5%.
- CC plans to create a rent payment fund for property owners, broaden rent control exceptions, and increase the rent increase cap to 7.1%.
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Other Local Measures
- Measures in Fairfax and San Anselmo, California, emphasize eviction conditions, tenant protections, and rent control regulations.
- Hoboken, New Jersey’s ballot question seeks to change rent control laws, allowing vacant rent-controlled units to be rented at market rates with $2,500 contributions to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
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Berkeley, California: Measures BB and CC
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Proposals for Affordable Housing
- California’s Proposition 5 aims to lower the supermajority requirement for issuing bonds for affordable and public housing from 66.67% to 55%.
- Rhode Island’s Question 3 requests authorization of $120 million bonds for housing development, with a significant portion allocated to affordable housing.
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Affordable Housing Measures in Different States
- States like Maryland, North Carolina, California, and cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have proposed measures to address affordable housing challenges through bonds, property taxes, and subsidies.
With the affordable housing crisis gripping the nation, the outcomes of these measures, primarily in California, could set a precedent for future housing regulations. Regardless of where you reside, the looming decisions underscore the impact of housing laws that will shape the housing landscape moving forward.
