pages: RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2018-02-05.pdf, 3
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RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee | 2018-02-05 | 3 | Approved Minutes February 5, 2018 landlord that an offer of a one-year lease was required along with the first rent increase since enactment of the Ordinance, he came to her door at 8:45 p.m. (close to her child's bed time) and tried to force her to sign a lease. She said that she did not want to sign it and does not see herself living there a long time. Member Friedman asked if improvements to the property would encourage her to stay, and she said they would have to be substantial. Chair Cambra asked the landlord if any costs to run the property had increased and Mr. Young replied that some costs had increased, without specifying which costs. Member Murray asked the landlord what it cost to pay the mortgage and insurance and Mr. Young replied that it was about $3,100 per month. Mr. Young expressed that the rent from both units at the property barely covered the costs of running the property. Chair Cambra asked the parties if they learned anything new that they did not know prior to the meeting. Mr. Young said that he did not know that the tiles needed repair. Chair Cambra asked the tenant if she would be open to a rent increase if the landlord did repairs. Ms. Lorega responded that the bedroom door would have to be repainted and made to fit properly and the floors would need to be repaired. Mr. Young said he was open to fixing the broken floor tiles. Chair Cambra clarified that the Committee did not have the authority to require repairs or maintenance in exchange for increased rent and that the parties would have to come to an agreement between themselves for this. Chair Cambra further clarified that any agreement is unenforceable by the City and that an agreement would waive the current right to a hearing. Ms. Lorega said she did not feel comfortable making an agreement with the landlord. Vice Chair Sullivan-SariƱana asked the landlord how much rent the tenants in the other unit paid, and Mr. Young replied that their rent was $2,586 per month. Member Friedman asked if the tenant was concerned about her deposit being returned and Ms. Lorega said she was. Member Friedman suggested she may seek outside assistance, referencing Angie Hajjem-Watson's earlier public comment on ECHO's housing services. The parties took their seats and the Committee members began deliberations. Member Murray said that she believed the rent to be high compared to comparable units in the area, but not high in relation to the landlord's costs of operation. She echoed that now that the tenants would have two incomes, the rent increase did not appear to cause a financial hardship. She stated she believed the fundamental problem was a bad relationship between the parties. She opined that a 5% increase was reasonable. Page 3 of 5 | RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2018-02-05.pdf |