Frequently Asked Questions - HERE'S YOUR ANSWERS!
1) How did the Santa Cruz City Rental Ordinance come about? This is a part of an agreement between UCSC to control the growth of student population to the universitys agreement to house two-thirds of students on campus as a part of the 2008 pact that settled lawsuits over its growth plan.
2) When will the registration and Checklist Certification process begin? The first letters are being sent out now to owners of rental property. There are two groups of mailings. One is the estimated 500-800 homes on the compliance list. The other is rental owners that need to self-certify or be inspected. The property owners will be sent out 2 week increments with goals for all rental property owners will receive a letter within a year from Commencement of mailings. Until letters are recieved, rental owners do not need to do anything.
3) Will there be help to complete the Self-certification Checklist? The City Staff plans on setting up informational workshops on "How to pass the residential for your property?" Notification of the meetings will be included in the mailing packet.
4) Can a self certification checklist be completed by a professional licensed home inspector? Yes, as long as the property owners also signs the Checklist Certification under penalty of prejury.
5) Will the decline in the housing stock in the city have an adverse effect on state housing requirements and state funding to the City for reduction in the housing stock due to the abatement of units found not to meet City checklist standards? No
6) What will the City do should funding from the University dry up in three years? The rental program is planned to be self-supporting once it is fully up and running. Will the City adopt new taxes or fees to support this new rental ordinance program? Not planned at this time.
7) Will the City consider instituting a fast track legalization for landlords with questionable units at reduced fees? No plans for that at the present but you never know for the future. What might this fee structure be? Unknown
8) In the case of a owner occupied home which has a detached structure that has been converted into habitable space, would that owner be required to register under this ordinance and if not, what is the rationale? Is the habitable space a legal rental unit, not an ADU? Yes. If a legally converted workshop, laundry room, etc. No. In the case of an owner occupied home which has an attached garage that has been converted into habitable space without permits, is that owner required to register under this ordinance and if not, what is the rationale? If there is not a code violation then the City probably does not know about the space and it would not be brought into the program unless the owner voluntarily registered it. If the owner knows it is illegal then they should legalize the space if possible.
9) Is there a prioritization of current complaints and on what basis is this being prioritized? Code enforcement cases are already prioritized based on life safety issues being first. By date of complaint or type of complaint?
