Justice for Renters, an initiative campaign sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), submitted signatures on June 20 to place an initiative on the Nov. 2024 ballot in California to prohibit the state from limiting local rent control measures. This would be the third rent control initiative sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in four election cycles. The two prior initiatives in 2018 and 2020 were defeated with about 59% of voters opposing both measures.
The 2024 initiative is designed to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which was enacted in 1995. The act prohibits rent control on single-family homes and houses completed after Feb. 1, 1995. By repealing the act, the initiative would allow cities and counties to limit rent on any housing and limit the rent for a first-time tenant. Any local laws currently inoperative under Costa-Hawkins would take effect upon its repeal.
Proposition 21 (2020) would have also repealed the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and allowed local governments to enact rent control on housing that was first occupied over 15 years ago, with an exception for landlords who own no more than two homes with distinct titles or subdivided interests. AHF spent $40.6 million in support of the initiative. Opponents received $83.6 million to campaign against Proposition 21.
