pages: RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2018-09-17.pdf, 2
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RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee | 2018-09-17 | 2 | Approved Minutes September 17, 2018 Mr. St. John said that the owners were requesting rent increases that would compensate them for the improvements they made to the property, while still being fair to the tenants by not creating too great a financial burden. He reminded the Committee that two options were provided to most of the tenants: a larger one-time increase, or a series of smaller phased-in increases over several years. He said that residents had already been compensated for the inconveniences caused by the construction by having no increases during the period of time when the work was being performed, the tenants' rents were abated if they could not use some or all of their units, and they were provided alternative accommodations if they needed to temporarily leave their units. Ms. Aschenbrener said that she wrote her landlords a letter explaining that they have narrowed her balcony making it less user-friendly. She said there were other repair or maintenance issues that she's currently working with management to address. She said she felt the proposed rent increases were too high for a studio apartment. She added that she is a senior citizen and has to work. She said she began living at the complex since 1983, minus a period of six years when she lived somewhere else. Vice Chair Murray asked staff if staff had received a copy of Ms. Aschenbrener's letter and staff replied that we did not a written response from the tenant for this submission. Vice Chair Murray read the letter into the record, providing Ms. Aschenbrener's perspective. The Committee members discussed several of Ms. Aschenbrener's repair and maintenance concerns with her and the landlords, including her the loss of space on her balcony. Member Sullivan-Cheah asked if the repair of the balcony was done in the same way as the other balconies in the building. Ms. Hawkins said it was comparable to other studios' balconies. Ms. Hawkins added that she had just rented the unit above Ms. Aschenbrener's unit for $2,150 per month, adding that that other unit was fully renovated. Member Sullivan-Cheah asked Ms. Aschenbrener what impact a $123 (year one of the proposed phase-in increase) or $310 (the proposed one-time rent increase) increase would have on her. She said she would probably have to move out of her home. He asked her what percentage of her income goes toward her housing costs. She said that her social security check pays for her rent, and her income from her job pays for everything else. She said she believed a 5% or $65 rent increase would be fair. Chair Cambra clarified that the RRAC can only make a decision for an increase of one year, and tenants could come back each year to have future increases reviewed. Vice Chair Murray asked what other expenses Ms. Aschenbrener had and she said she had a car payment, insurance payment, and other basic expenses of daily life. Page 2 of 8 | RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2018-09-17.pdf |