Pasadena Housing Providers

Families Housing Families

$45 An Hour For What?

As always, we attended the Pasadena Rental Housing Board's meeting on December 4th at Pasadena City Hall. With just two items on the agenda, it was surprising that the Board managed to pad out the time to over three and half hours, while being paid over $45/hour each.

At the end of the night, the Board had made no decisions on whether to set up escrow accounts to encourage tenants to withhold rent from housing providers who hadn't successfully registered. They also couldn't decide whether to let an external company determine what level of relocation assistance tenants should get if an owner want to move back into their own home.

However, amid the endless talk we did discover three things:

• An At-large member of the Rent Board is resigning. This means housing providers can stand for this position to bring expertise and balance to Board meetings. If you are a resident of Pasadena and would like to apply, please urgently contact the City Clerk's office on (626) 744-4124.
• The Rent Board seemed surprised to hear that Rent Department Director Helen Morales will be making a presentation to the City Council on Monday December 8th. The Board asked if this would include a budget presentation that they had expected to present in January. Director Morales responded that this would not be a budget presentation. You can read the "not a budget" presentation with its income analysis and activity reports here.
• The Rent Department will be holding a holiday party on December 16th. We have no information on whether your registry fees will be paying for this. Details can be found here.

SB 721 Balcony Inspection Deadline

Only 3 Weeks Left

January 1, 2026 is the statewide deadline for the first round of SB 721 balcony and walkway inspections at multifamily buildings with 3 or more units. Many owners are just now realizing that they still need to have their Exterior Elevated Elements (EEEs) inspected and documented.

Under SB 721, local building departments – including those in Los Angeles County – can issue enforcement actions and daily penalties for properties that fail to comply after notice. These penalties can reach $500 or more per day until required inspections and repairs are completed.

Our friends at Sturdy Builds, Inc. are currently scheduling SB 721 inspections throughout Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley, including Pasadena. Several PHP members have recently worked with Sturdy Builds to ensure their compliance with SB 721.

Sturdy Builds' SB 721 services include:

• Code-compliant SB 721 inspections and reporting
• Fast scheduling and quick turnaround
• Repair pricing if deficiencies are identified
• Portfolio pricing for multiple properties

In addition to SB 721 inspections and reports, the team also handles:

• SB 721 balcony and walkway repairs
• SB 326 inspections for condo/HOA communities
• Soft-story seismic retrofits (engineering, permits, construction, and cost-recovery support)
• ADU design-build for garage conversions and detached units

To get SB 721 inspection pricing or to schedule online, please visit: www.sturdy-builds.com/sb721

Email: info@sturdy-builds.com

Phone: 833-STURDY B (788-7392)