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Cal Poly students demand rent control in SLO

June 22, 2023

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

A group of Cal Poly students spoke during public comment at a San Luis Obispo City Council meeting earlier this month calling for rent control and for officials to crack down on landlords not properly maintaining their properties. [New Times]

Prior to appearing at the June 6 council meeting, some students conducted interviews with about 100 of the peers who are living in off-campus neighborhoods. The group says it has documented mold and rodent infestations, building code violations, unresponsive property managers, absentee landlords and consistent rent increases. 

A total of eight Cal Poly students spoke during the council meeting earlier this month. Several of the students called for the council to strengthen its code enforcement programs and consider adopting a rent control ordinance. 

“Rent is only half the problem,” student Diego Cervantez said. “One student had so much black mold in their room that went unaddressed by the landlord for so long that they had to move out halfway through the year.”

Following the public comments, SLO Mayor Erica Stewart said she empathized with the students’ experiences.

“Part of the reason why I wanted to be at this dais with my colleagues is I, too, have experienced the black mold and very uninhabitable spaces to live in,” Stewart said.

Stewart asked city staff to respond to the comments.

Community Development Director Michael Codron instructed tenants whose landlords are not maintaining their properties to call the city’s code enforcement hotline at (805) 594-8188. Individuals who call the hotline with a complaint will receive a call back, and officials may schedule an inspection, Codron said. 


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Yes, landlords do have habitability obligations enforceable by codes, but they are entitled to collect rent commensurate with the market and expenses of upkeep. I lived in some interesting accommodations that were good deals and negotiated with landlords. But if you take a hard line on code enforcement, the landlord needs to take a hard line on rent.


28

I have lovely memories in the 90s cramming 3 of us in a room, no privacy, no cell phones, no internet, no fancy clothes, car, meal plan, no coffee, no cable, no Netflix subscription, movies, or ever eating out.


Yes I walked to campus but without the snow or walking uphill both ways.


If you have any of the above and complain about rent control boo hoo.


20

They would be better off pushing for tuition control, but then Jeffery wouldn’t make it to the multi million compensation club.


34

I always get a kick out of all the “reasons” why we shouldn’t have rent control. But I really wish that those who voted against it had some experience with it first, before making up all the supposed downsides of it. One of my favorites was back when it was on the ballot and the real estate lobby and apt owners’ association types said it would “hurt veterans”. And the majority of the voters in this county bought it. I wonder how the vets living in tents and cardboard boxes, who have been priced out of even a humble roof over their heads, felt about that.


So many of those who have spent a majority of their lives creating this place and making it so very desirable have since been priced out. No matter how hard they worked. But ya know, those gentry types who have taken over are really enjoying what their money could buy away from us.


If this is the great “freedom” of “capitalism”, I’m just not that impressed with it.


-47

Yes to code enforcement for substandard living conditions. No to rent control.


48

So, I’ve been in a number of dorms, off campus housing, and frat house kitchens… ALL SHOCKINGLY MISTREATED by these same individuals now complaining. Maybe try taking out the trash more than once a month, not leaving used cookware on the stove, actually sweeping and cleaning up after yourselves and then you won’t get rats, roaches, and mold. Is rent too high for the avg slo citizen, yes, but not for those folks imo. Daddy’s money anyways!


29

Exactly. My wife was a property manager. I went along with her on many complaints to help do repairs, heavy lifting, and what-not. One of the more typical complaints and head shaker, was 5 girls complaining that 1) the roof leaked and the couch was soaked, and 2) the heater didn’t work and it was cold at night.


After plowing through the dirty clothes on the floor, half eaten things on every counter and table, and the myriad of kitchen utensils strewn about, we found that 1) they had no idea how to close the window that was open behind the soggy couch (pull down, latch), and 2) turn the heater switch to “on” at the thermostat.


They had been living there for 9 months.


22

The rent in this county is outrageous not only for college students but everyone and the landlords don’t want to put any money into keeping the places up because they know there are more people to take the renters place. Even though the home owner can deduct the expense of upkeep from their tax’s I have a feeling most don’t even claim their rent as income on their tax’s. There should be harsh fines for the landlords who do not fix hazardous problems in a timely manner


-26

I believe you have it reversed: landlords can take repairs off of their taxes (business expenses), but home owners can’t.


19

So you are saying if I own a home and rent it out I can’t deduct any repairs I do on it? Wow lot of – scores I didn’t think that many people enjoyed paying high rent. Yes a lot of renters can be a pain but the rent here is still to high


-7

The part you rent out can have the repairs taken off your taxes. Repair to the part you live in can not be taken off the taxes.


Dwelling units (houses/apartments) are currently expensive to buy/build. The City & County rules/zoning makes it difficult (and expensive) to put in new dwellings. Low supply and high demand means prices for what is available goes sky high.


6

Students who will likely never live here after graduating think they should get to vote or change things? Sure, change our area then head on back to Nebraska in a few years, we’ll take care of your mess. Call the Health Department if your landlord is a hack, not our council.


43

To be fair, the students should vote where their health insurance is paid. If they are still covered by the parents’ account, they vote where the parents live; if they are totally independent and pay their own bills, then they vote where they live.


24

Just the possibility of rent control means virtually an automatic rent INCREASE before the rent control goes into effect. Then expect the max increase each year (typically 10%). Kids. So naïve. SMH.


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