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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Section 1954

Citation
Section 1954
Parent Document
CABINDA v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd., 95 Cal. Rptr. 2d 676 (2000)
Jurisdiction
California (state)
Effective Date
2000-08-23

Other Sections in This Document (53)

Full Text

1,173 chars
In our case, the state law authorizes owners to set rental rates, and in the case of rent controlled properties during the interim period, to implement a 15 percent rent increase following a voluntary vacancy, abandonment, or eviction for failure to pay rent. Santa Monica's regulation 3301, subdivision (g)(1) defines "voluntary vacancy" in terms which are generally consistent with the dictionary definitions we quoted. But subdivision (g)(2) then defines "nonvoluntary vacancy" with examples of conduct which find no support in Costa-Hawkins. These examples include threats to withdraw the property from the rental market, reduction in housing services or *685 maintenance, abuse of the landlord's right of access into a unit, and the presumption of a sham tenancy where the prior tenancy lasted for less than four months. Application of these additional prohibitions may preclude rent increases otherwise permitted under Costa-Hawkins. For that reason, regulation 3301, subdivision (g) is inimical to the state law and for that reason is preempted. (See Mobilepark West Homeowners Assn. v. Escondido Mobilepark West, supra, 35 Cal.App.4th at p. 46, 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 393.)