Why Property Owners Must Oppose Assembly Bill 246 (A.B. 246)

Assembly Bill 246, proposed by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, threatens to freeze and roll back rents in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, affecting all residential rental properties—including those traditionally exempt from rent control such as single-family homes, condominiums, and new constructions. If passed, this bill would retroactively set rents back to January 7, 2025, imposing severe financial penalties—up to $10,000 per violation—for property owners who fail to comply.

The Immediate Threat of A.B. 246

Scheduled for discussion by the State Assembly's Judiciary Committee on March 4, 2025, A.B. 246 represents a severe and potentially indefinite financial risk for rental housing providers. It mandates not only a freeze on rent increases but requires property owners to issue refunds to tenants, effectively rolling back rents without a defined end date.

Why A.B. 246 Sets a Dangerous Precedent

This proposed legislation undermines the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and introduces unprecedented price controls across all residential rental properties. Here's why this bill poses a significant threat to your property investments:

• Emergency Measures Without Expiration: A.B. 246 could indefinitely freeze rental rates by exploiting emergency provisions, setting a troubling precedent for future governmental interventions.
• Significant Financial Burdens: Property owners, many still recovering from nearly four years of COVID-related financial setbacks, would face further destabilization, potentially forcing many out of the market or into foreclosure.
• Redundant Regulation: Numerous jurisdictions within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties already maintain strict rent control measures, making this legislation both redundant and excessively punitive.
  
  

Act Now to Protect Your Investments

Property owners and real estate investors cannot afford to remain passive. It's crucial to:

• Contact your local Assemblymember immediately: Clearly express your opposition to A.B. 246, highlighting its harmful impact on your business and community.
• Reach out to Judiciary Committee members: Emphasize the dangerous financial and economic consequences of passing this bill.
  
  

Key Talking Points to Communicate:

1. A.B. 246 unfairly freezes and rolls back rents indefinitely in L.A. and Ventura Counties, further destabilizing an already fragile market.
2. Current state and local regulations sufficiently address rent caps and price gouging, rendering A.B. 246 unnecessary.
3. Los Angeles City and County have previously rejected similar measures, recognizing them as unnecessary and detrimental.
4. Independent housing providers, already stretched thin by prolonged COVID-era rent moratoriums, cannot withstand the further financial pressure that this legislation would impose.
5. California voters have repeatedly rejected similar overreach—Propositions 33, 21, and 10 were all defeated, reflecting clear voter opposition to stringent rent controls.

Your Action is Critical

Use the Find Your California Representative tool to identify and contact your local Assemblymember. Every voice counts—urge them to vote NO on A.B. 246.

Together, we can protect fair and balanced housing regulations that support property owners, tenants, and healthy communities.