Rent Control Adjustment Relief

The 2022 General Adjustment (GA) of 6% with a maximum $140 monthly increase for rent-controlled units was the highest increase since 1990. As many renter households in Santa Monica have experienced financial hardships resulting from the impacts of the global pandemic and are already known to be rent-burdened, an increase of this magnitude was expected to lead to greater housing instability in the community. In response, the City of Santa Monica developed a rent relief program - the Rent Control Adjustment Relief (RCAR) program, and an eviction protection ordinance for qualifying tenants who need more time to pay increase rent. Santa Monica voters also passed Measure RC in the November election, which adjusts the 2022 GA of 6% ($140 maximum) to a 0.8% increase ($19 maximum) effective February 1, 2023, and Board regulations require the average increase for the period from September 2022 through August 2023 not exceed 3% or $70 monthly, whichever is less.

The RCAR program provides relief equivalent to a 3% rent increase over a 12-month period to be paid directly to the property owner/manager in a single lump sum. The Rent Control Adjustment Relief program and eviction ordinance are intended to keep families housed, shield tenants from eviction, and help both property owners and tenants manage this year’s unusually high General Adjustment increase. The program is using $750,000 in available City funds to provide one-time relief to cover the rent control General Adjustment increase. 

The application period for RCAR originally closed September 19. It was reopened on a limited basis beginning December 12, 2022 and closed again on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 6 pm. No new applications are being accepted at the current time.

If you have questions, please contact rcar@santamonica.gov or call (310)458-2201 extension 5771.