Santa Monica Rent Control Board affirms hearing decisions, grants removal permit and advances charter amendments

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board affirmed three hearing officer rulings, approved a removal permit for a previously unpermitted unit and directed staff to proceed with proposed charter amendments, the board said at its April 9 meeting.

The board, acting in its appellate capacity, affirmed a hearing officer’s rent-decrease findings in three separate appeals. In P2024-05878 (Unit B, 1028 10th Street) the board upheld decreases totaling $160 for deteriorated bathroom wall surfaces, insufficient hot water supply and a damaged window screen after staff concluded substantial evidence supported the hearing officer’s findings. Owner Sean Rod disputed post‑record observations and argued condensation and occupant behavior explained the stains, saying, “the root cause of the stains is the water condensation from excessive showering,” but commissioners emphasized they could only consider evidence in the closed record and voted to affirm.

In KSP2024-00062 (Unit 3, 2317 5th Street), the board…