Rent Stabilization Newsletter – September 2025

News and Updates

Sign up to receive important updates on the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance by clicking the link below.

Rent Stabilization Program Updates

Late Fees Now in Effect for Rental Registration

As of October 1, 2025, late fees are now in effect for all unpaid registration fees for the current program year.

For detailed information about rental unit registration, please visit our FAQs

If you need help completing your property registration, you can contact us at (714) 667-2209 or via email at [email protected]. Live assistance is also available in our office by walk-in or appointment at: 801 W. Civic Center Dr., Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92701

You can also access the Rental Registry directly to get started.

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Major Changes for 3-Day Eviction Notices After Recent Court Ruling

The California Court of Appeal's recent Eshagian v. Cepeda (2025) decision sets a stricter standard for 3-day eviction notices. Landlords now risk immediate dismissal of eviction cases if they rely on outdated notice forms.

The ruling requires that 3-day notices:

• Clearly state the service date and actual notice period.
• Provide payment instructions that exclude weekends and judicial holidays.
• Explicitly explain the consequences for nonpayment (beyond simply stating "pay or quit" in the title).

It is critical for landlords to review their notice templates and procedures to ensure compliance. Updated forms are available through professional organizations such as the Apartment Association of Orange County.

We are not legal experts, but we encourage landlords and tenants to stay informed. If you have questions or are unsure about notice requirements, please contact a legal aid agency.

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Update: Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program

The City of Santa Ana's Ayuda Sin Fronteras ("Help Without Borders") program, launched in July 2025, received overwhelming interest. Due to the large number of applicants, the program is no longer accepting referrals, as current applications are expected to fully use the funding set aside by the City Council.

We thank our community partners and residents for their engagement and will share updates if additional resources become available in the future.

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2025-26 Maximum Allowable Rent Increase in Effect

The maximum allowable rent increase for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, is:

2.42%

According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the CPI increased by 3.02% from May 2024 through May 2025 (as shown in Table 1). The Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance requires the maximum allowable rent increase to be the lesser percent of either 3% or 80% of the CPI change. Since 80% of the change in CPI through May 2025 is less than 3%, the allowable rent increase for the period effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, will be 2.42%.

Please use the links below for further information on the calculation of the maximum allowable increase, as well as further instructions on how property owners may apply the increase depending on when their last increase was applied.

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Upcoming Community Events

Join us to learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (RSJCEO). Our staff will be attending local events to assist tenants and landlords in understanding the ordinance and how it impacts housing stability.

Tenant's Rights Community Workshops - Virtual Webinars

The City of Santa Ana Rent Stabilization Division, in collaboration with the Santa Ana Unified School District, invites tenants to join our Tenant Rights Community Workshops.

Learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. These workshops are designed to help tenants understand how the ordinance affects them and how to ensure their housing stability.

Virtual Webinars - No Pre-Registration Required

Attend from the comfort of your home-simply visit the Community Workshops Webpage on the scheduled date to join the session.

Monday, October 20, 2025 | ⏰ Time TBD

Monday, November 17, 2025 | ⏰ Time TBD

For the most up-to-date information, visit our Community Workshops Webpage.

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Serving our Residents

City staff serves the public on a daily basis by responding to telephone and email inquiries about the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance and general landlord/tenant issues. Persons contacting the City include landlords, tenants, real estate brokers, prospective tenants and prospective property owners. The most common topics of concern are evictions, allowable rent increases, and the City's Rental Registry.

Public Inquiries & Interactions
August 2024 to August 2025

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Rental Housing Board - Now Accepting Applications

The Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance ("Ordinance") establishes a Rental Housing Board to administer and enforce renter protections for Santa Ana tenants.

Under Section 8-3180 of the Ordinance, the Rental Housing Board ("Board") is comprised of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council, with each Councilmember selecting one (1) member through an equitable random lottery process. The Board includes:

• Three (3) Tenants, including at least one (1) Mobilehome Tenant;
• Two (2) Landlords with rental property experience; and
• Two (2) At-Large Members with no financial interest in or ownership of income-generating rental housing (e.g., an owner-occupant of a single-family home).

Currently, there are three (3) vacancies on the Board. If you or someone you know is interested in serving your community by contributing to the oversight of renter protections and housing policies, we encourage you to apply.

Applications are available on the City Clerk's Office website. Join us in supporting fair and equitable housing practices in Santa Ana-apply today!

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Know Your Rights

If you believe the owner or property manager of your rental unit or mobile home may not be in compliance with the Ordinance, or if you need assistance interpreting the Ordinance, please reach out to one of the City's community partners:

Seek Mediation Services

Mediation is a voluntary collaborative process wherein the landlord and tenant(s) who have a disagreement can develop options, consider alternatives, and develop a consensual agreement. The role of the Mediator is to facilitate open communication to resolve a dispute in a non-adversarial and confidential manner.

Contact us to access mediation services in collaboration with our community partner Groundswell.

The California Courts Self-Help Guide assists landlords and tenants by offering the following resources:

• Landlords: Starting an eviction case (an unlawful detainer court case)
• Tenants: Understanding your options if you get a Notice to Quit or Summons and Complaint

Click here for more eviction and housing self-help resources.

Please be advised, the City does not recommend or endorse any particular law firm or agency, but leaves it up to tenants to determine their best course of action and chosen representation, if necessary.

If you have any difficulty connecting with the links in this Newsletter, enter the following website address into an internet browser to explore the City's website - https://www.santa-ana.org/renter-protections