Santa Monica Residents Could Qualify For Rent Relief Amid Increase

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica renters can qualify for help on their payments in the face of major rent increases for 2022.

Renters in rent-controlled units could see increases as high as 6 percent of their monthly rent, capped at $140, starting on Sept. 1, 2022, according to the city of Santa Monica. Although the city approved a ballot measure for the Nov. 8 general election to cut this allowable increase in half, renters will still hurt until then.

Given the significant increase, the city will offer $750,000 worth of one-time rent relief payments to Santa Monica residents who apply before 6 p.m. Monday. To qualify for the relief, residents must reside in a rent-controlled apartment within city limits. Residents must spend over 50 percent of the household's income on rent and must have received notification of a 2022 General Adjustment rent increase. Rental housing voucher recipients to not qualify, according to the city of Santa Monica.

Not all qualifying applicants will receive funding, and special priority will be given to the lowest income households, according to the city.

Visit this link for more information and to apply for the funding.

This year's maximum allowable rent increase is "unusually high," according to the city. The figure is generally 75 percent of the change in LA's Consumer Price Index and is announced annually by the city's Rent Control Board. Learn more about Santa Monica's rent control program using this link.