The West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission will meet this week to review crucial information concerning properties affected by Ellis Act filings since the end of the COVID moratorium on evictions.
The Ellis Act outlines the rights and obligations of landlords who intend to remove residential rental properties from the rental market. While the Ellis Act allows local jurisdictions some discretion in imposing penalties and regulating rents if landlords reintroduce a previously removed property within a specified timeframe, it generally restricts municipalities from impeding landlords’ decision to exit the rental market.
During the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic crisis, when federal, state, and local emergencies were declared, municipalities were granted the authority to adopt extraordinary measures to safeguard public health and welfare. WeHo suspended the acceptance of Ellis Act applications from June 2020 until March 2023, following local and countywide moratoria. However, as of April 1, 2023, all emergency declarations and moratoria expired, allowing landlords to once again file Ellis Act applications and initiate the eviction process to withdraw residential rental properties from the market.
As expected, a backlog of interest in pursuing withdrawals accumulated during the pandemic period. Consequently, the Rent Stabilization Commission’s staff has witnessed a recent surge in filings, although the overall number remains consistent with what would typically be filed over the three-year crisis period.
The properties affected by Ellis Act filings include:
- 931-923 Palm Ave. — Historic properties, some of the first residences of the town of Sherman, that are headed for demolition. In their place will be built a senior living facility.
- 1109 and 1115 N. Vista — multifamily homes near Plummer Park
- 8000 and 8012 Fountain Ave. — two small apartment buildings which are slated to be replaced by a single larger one.
Ellis Act Applications Since End of Moratorium (April 1, 2023) |
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| Property Address | Number of Units | Number of Displaced Tenants | Date of Notice to Tenants | Anticipated Date of Complete Withdrawal From Market |
| 8939 Keith Avenue | 3 | 5 | 4/3/2023 | 4/3/2024 |
| 931 Palm Avenue | 2 | 2 | 4/3/2023 | 4/3/2024 |
| 927 Palm Avenue | 1 | 1 | 4/3/2023 | 4/3/2024 |
| 923 Palm Avenue | 4 | 5 | 4/3/2023 | 4/3/2024 |
| 1109 N. Vista Street | 6 | 6 | 4/26/2023 | 4/26/2024 |
| 1115 N. Vista Street | 6 | 2 | 4/26/2023 | 4/26/2024 |
| 1215 N. Larrabee Street | 4 | 3 | 4/24/2023 | 4/24/2024 |
| 8000 Fountain Avenue | 7 | 7 | 4/21/2023 | 4/21/2024 |
| 8012 Fountain Avenue | 6 | 6 | 4/21/2023 | 4/21/2024 |
| 814 West Knoll Drive | 5 | 7 | 5/25/2023 | 5/25/2024 |
| 918 N. West Knoll Drive | 6 | 4 | 6/7/2023 | 10/7/2023 |
| TOTAL | 50 | 48 | ||
As long as the renters Can drink and get high I don’t care how much the rent is
Rather than a column “Number of Displaced Tenants”, perhaps it would be more accurate to label that column “Number of Units Property Owner Can Now Regain Control Over, and Eventually Rent Out At Fair Market Rent”.
The legislature has allowed landlords to go out of the rental business, usually this means demolishing their existing buildings and replacing them with luxury housing and a couple of affordable units. But every “displaced tenant” is more than a number, they are real people who are our neighbors, people you may know from the gym, AA or just from walking your dog. Each of them has a story and many of them have a great love for this community and have made longstanding contributions to it. Change is inevitable but sometimes we need to acknowledge the cost.
Then dont renting. Renting is temporary
I’m suggesting a landlord might wait the 5 year period, and then re-rent the unit at fair market value. Where we disagree is I believe many rent control people love West Hollywood, not because they have any “love for this community”, but rather a “love for getting an apartment for $700 a month when it should go for $3,000”. You know, that creates a lot of love, doesn’t it.
Steve,
Don’t even bother. The person you’re replying to does not care about these people- in fact, I would even go as far as saying WehoQueen despises these displaces people from taking up space from potential millionaires.
Why would I dispose people lawfully living where they can. The problem isn’t the people, the problem are the politicians who enable all of this nonsense. An assortment of Marxists, communists etc. who don’t value private property. John Heilman comes to mind who has figured out a way to provide this in exchange for votes.
I’m one of those “numbers”. May you never have to understand the stress of losing your home for someone’s financial decision. Am I not entitled to a stable home because I don’t/can’t afford to own in this town? Having my rent stabilization removed means that that is even more out of reach as my rent will now increase by an additional 20% minimum. Also, on May 1st rents jumped massively across the board throughout Southern California. Please think of the people this affects, because we are the community.
You’re entitled to a home where you can afford it. Same as me and everyone else. You only love the community cause they unnecessairly give you cheap housing. Take away that, and you wouldn’t be living here, and you wouldn’t have any fake love for the community. The real community is the people who invested here and built it. Not the freeloaders. I don’t want anyone to lose their home, as long as they live where they can afford to live without handouts from landlords.
The 8000 Fountain building was potentially a Cultural Resource having a few renditions of the architectural style in West Hollywood. Procedural snafus prevented it from having a proper hearing after a “go to” nay saying HP voice rendered a death knell for an inexperienced developer and architect. At the very least this might have been an Adaptable Reuse project and avoided disruption of the neighborhood with a less than admirable project and the lives of the current tenants.