It’s been more than a week since the City of Santa Barbara’s temporary moratorium on rent increases went into effect, and the new rules and regulations have already sparked a wave of confusion and new concerns for tenants and property owners alike.
When the City Council approved the temporary rent freeze on January 13, the intent was to put a hold on rent increases to allow city officials to work out the details of a permanent rent stabilization ordinance over the next few months. But the temporary moratorium also brought unintended consequences, which came to light in the weeks between council approval and the February 26 effective date.
Representatives from organizations providing support to tenants, such as Santa Barbara Tenants Union (SBTU) and CAUSE, say they have been flooded with questions about the rent freeze. Tenants have reached out for clarity about whether their units are covered by the moratorium, and for guidance about how to handle potentially illegal rent increases…