What's Happening in Lafayette, CA…

In response to recent complaints from residents of apartment complexes in downtown Lafayette over skyrocketing rents and forced evictions, leaders of the city will be discussing a temporary halt on rent increases next month.

The apartment homes were purchased in February by Sack Properties in February, which most likely used printing services at the time to send out letters to tenants informing them of the change in ownership, followed by notices of increases in rent. President and CEO of the San Francisco real estate investment firm, Kirby Sack, said there will be a phasing in of these increases to select apartments that need improvements and repairs.

However, residents are saying that the rent increases are as much as 90%, making the apartments unaffordable for some residents. Some residents have received 90-day eviction notices, while others have already moved on.

Executive director of Tenants Together, Dean Preston, commented that higher rents mean that rent control should now be considered. Evan Gerberding, a spokesperson from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, added that rent control is one tool cities and counties have to keep housing affordable.

Residents claim that Sack Properties has refused to discuss the rent increases, so Councilman Don Tatzin has requested that a meeting be set up with the company and city officials, who should also approve an emergency ordinance.