Anaheim officials are rolling out a pilot program and dedicated webpage next month for tenants to report illegal rent increases and no-fault evictions. This comes after years of discussions about the city potentially implementing its own rent control law, which would make it the second in Orange County to do so.
The new intake program is designed to collect information on the frequency of violations of the state’s tenant protections law. It also provides the city attorney’s office an opportunity to review complaints and determine on a case-by-case basis whether intervention is feasible.
However, the extent of city intervention in disputes regarding rent hikes or no-fault evictions that violate state law remains uncertain. City Attorney Rob Fabela stated that the volume of information the program will gather is unknown, and any civil enforcement would require city approval. Fabela noted that additional resources would be necessary to pursue every violation, adding, "There’s not going to be any promises made about any particular situation."
Fabela clarified that the city is not currently seeking additional resources for this purpose, stating, “Right now, we’re not asking for that.” He also stressed that the city's role under the program would not be to represent individual renters, and tenants retain their rights to pursue remedies in court.
In recent years, as residents have advocated for rent control, elected officials like City Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava have directed city staff to examine the requirements for enforcing existing state renter protection laws. Rubalcava, who is running for reelection, made such requests in September 2024 and again at the start of this year. On Tuesday, Rubalcava reiterated her previous stance that even if the city adopted its own rent control ordinance, enforcement could be challenging. She described the pilot program as a "good step forward," noting that existing law empowers cities to act and that enforcing state rules is a more effective strategy than implementing new, potentially unenforceable local protections.
The launch of the renter reporting program is expected to precede the November election by one month and follows by a couple of months the suspension of efforts by a local tenant group to place a rent control ordinance on the ballot. The group, Tenants United Anaheim, halted its signature-gathering initiative after receiving feedback that their proposal did not adequately address local needs. Members of Tenants United characterized the new program as a “baby step” on a long-standing issue.
This development also follows a 2023 state bill that strengthened California’s Tenant Protection law, enabling local city attorneys to seek injunctive relief in cases of illegal rent increases or no-fault evictions. At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Lupe Zamron, a volunteer with Tenants United, urged officials to consider a rent control ordinance. Zamron cited declining student enrollment, school mergers, teacher job losses, and residents being displaced due to housing unaffordability in Anaheim, calling for a rent freeze.
Chip Ahlswede, a spokesperson for the Apartment Association of OC, confirmed that the association supports landlords complying with state law. Ahlswede, who had previously expressed concerns about the Tenants United initiative, stated on Wednesday that cities have always possessed the authority to enforce these laws. He also noted that the state law represented a compromise among numerous groups.
During discussions, Councilman Ryan Bailus raised concerns that the pilot program was developed without prior approval from elected officials, questioning the resources allocated. Rubalcava contested this assertion. Mayor Ashleigh Aitken advocated for the city to distribute tenant rights pamphlets at local libraries and to include links to the superior court’s website and contact information for low-cost attorneys on the program’s webpage. Aitken emphasized the need to advocate for the rental community, ensuring access to education and knowledge of their rights.
According to a 2021 report from the Southern California Association of Governments, Anaheim has 55,113 renter-occupied homes out of 100,615 total homes. Census data indicates the median gross rent in Anaheim is $2,175, with a median household income of $95,227.
The pilot program is slated to return before the city council by April 2027, no more than six months after its launch.
