Higher Rents and Tenant Concerns

Approximately 90 angry and upset tenants from the Bahia Cabrillo and Villa Sirena and Anchorage Apartments met with Supervisor John Flynn and Steve Walton of the Channel Islands Harbor Investment Co. to try and reach some compromise regarding the 30% to 40% rent increase that we have been given.

Per Supervisor Flynn, even though these apartment complexes are on leased land from Ventura County, the county has no authority to change leases. He plans to talk with the other supervisors to see how widespread these rent increases are and to see if some compromise can be worked out with the management company.

Mr. Walton essentially stated that these properties needed upgrading and that a lot of money is being spent to do this and must be recouped this year by rent increases that cannot be spread out over two or three years. He claimed this was a “painful” decision but that they decided to see “what the market will bear” and continue to “evaluate” this decision.

In the meantime, people are moving out. It seems management would rather have higher rents, with more vacancies (estimated at approximately 25%) than full occupancy (as in the past) with lower rents.

Many of the tenants who are being forced to move have lived in these complexes for many years and are on fixed incomes. They have been faithful tenants, paying their rents on time and keeping up their apartments. These tenants are not just renters but have formed strong bonds with their neighbors. Obviously, this counts for little.

How sad when the dollar sign takes precedence over human needs and concerns.

This fight is not over yet! How many more renters in the county are being affected by unreasonable rent increases? Please let your county supervisor know. Are we going to have to lobby now for rent control to protect ourselves?

DIANA ASTER, Oxnard