According to the new law adopted by the West Hollywood city council at the November 18th city council meeting Weho residents and landlords are restricted by law to rent out their home, or a room, to a person seeking refuge from the fires. The ordinance adopted into law by the city council conceded their own authority to make any decisions on housing policy for leases less than one year.
UNITE HERE Local 11 spearheaded the campaign during the last election . The petition, which would ban short term rentals gathered the necessary signatures to be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide. The city council had the option to allow the voters to vote. We wrote about it here. Any change now requires a ballot measure for all voters to decide. A costly, and timely process.
Council member John Heilman raised the question during discussion about the effects of adopting such ordinance into law, saying “these by initiative takes away the ability of future councils to address the real-life concerns that are happening and the impacts of this ordinance on businesses.” Heilman continued: “having said that I really don’t have a problem with enacting this as an ordinance other than the fact that it takes away flexibility. I do think there are people who have single family homes who would put them out for rental during the Olympics, and as I understand from the city attorney we basically wouldn’t be allowed to permit that unless we went back to the voters”. Heilman then voted to give away the council’s authority over the issue.
During the debate on the short term rentals members of the public discussed the need for temporary housing for those who seek medical treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, including women seeking abortions from other states. But the original policy was passed in 2022 with the support and backing of UNITE HERE Local 11 and was set to expire.
While many residents have opened their doors to friends who have had to evacuate, those facing relocations will not be allowed to sign a lease in West Hollywood for less than a period of one year. Landlords with available housing will not be legally permitted to allow victims of the fires or those seeking evacuation to rent their vacant units.
This article above is actually false, old and annulled with the City Council yesterday anonymously voting to completely overturn long standing short-term rental protections: What came before the Council to vote was an “emergency amendment” proposed by no other than the City Attorney Langer who in the past has fought to overturn the RSO protections for renters in older apartment buildings that have a one-year minimum lease ordinance. To no surprise, Erickson and his shadow Council Hang – lobbied by the Hotel Union – we’re eager to vote this into action; both explaining that a “need to immediately assist the… Read more »
I find it appalling that the city council’s agenda for this week is asking them to rescind their policy they just ruled on before Shyne was exiting council. Heilman clearly stated passing this would stop further council couldn’t change the policy without voter approval. How is the city and their attorney suggesting they can change the path of governance just based on short sightedness?
Playing devil’s advocate here, but won’t people need housing for at least a year anyway? Ms. Lynn can chime in here, but it’ll take a long time just for entitlements to rebuild, won’t it?
The Unite union was behind spending $500,000 for a 2 week ice rink. What a complete waste of money.
Our obligation is to support our residents first and foremost. Short-term rentals take permanent housing off the market, and make what’s left unaffordable for what’s left of the working- and middle-class. Apartments are not built to be hotels.
Once again, the city council has failed to thoroughly consider their decisions, preventing many residents from being able to offer their homes to those in crisis due to a natural disaster. Idealism is for adolescents, not for city councils.
Rumors that they are gonna push more multi family bldgs to replace all the single family homes lost…more $$ for city. The land they deem now unbuildable due to new laws will be absorbed by the county just like the lot walgreens had purchased and the city took over and turned into a multi million dollar parking lot (with a dedication ceremony pending lol) wtf
Lindsey Horvath is on all the tv channels talking her bull while she was too inexperienced to make a difference before this all happened
she’s not very impressive. she will fit right in. The only Supe worth anything is Kathryn Barger
Ban? Maybe they should look at the ads online for rentals. In my building, they just advertised and RENTED (this week) month to month tenancy just a block away from city hall
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It’s unbelievable that the CIty Council has outsourced its agenda to a union based in DTLA that has no concern for residents of the City.
BINGO!!
well done Erickson, you are an absolute fool. You and your ridiculous crazies are doing a fine job fing things up. You should offer your resignation.
This law was and is completely insane to begin with. Especially now, the city should show its compassion, and sensitivity to the extraordinary circumstances so many displaced people are in and relax this inflexible and not well-thought-out rule. There are so many people in need. I have property owners that have units available units some even fully furnished down to dishes and linens that could make this a win-win for everyone.