Contracted Hearing Officer

The City of Pasadena Rent Stabilization Department is soliciting proposals from qualified providers for hearing officer services on an as-needed basis to support the Senior Hearing Officer with the processing of petitions, scheduling hearings, reviewing evidence, conducting hearings proceedings, preparing written decisions, and performing other related service under the City of Pasadena City Charter Article XVIII - The Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment, and other rent related ordinances and resolutions, and regulations, rules and policies that the City Council and the Pasadena Rental Housing Board adopts. The ideal candidate is a professional with extensive experience presiding over complex hearings, exceptional level of analytical and decision-making skills, and impartiality to ensure fair and balanced outcomes.

The Rent Stabilization Department was created in December 2023 to support the Pasadena Rental Housing Board (PRHB) duties to regulate rent increases on certain rental properties in the city, provide eviction protections, and carry out the other duties set forth in the Pasadena Fair & Equitable Housing Charter Amendment (Charter Amendment) approved by Pasadena voters in November 2022.

The Department is responsible for:

• Enforcing rent stabilization laws: Implementing policies and procedures to prevent unfair rent increases, eviction, and other habitability violations while ensuring rental-property owners receive a fair return on investment in accordance with the Charter Amendment;
• Assisting tenants and landlords: Provide counseling and guidance to empower tenants and landlords to understand their rights and responsibilities and navigate PRHB processes for petitions, hearings and accessing other city services;
• Providing a process for downward adjustments of rent and upward adjustments of rent
• Collecting and analyzing data: Comprehensive data on rents, housing availability, and other data to inform policy decisions, and enforce regulations;
• Engaging in community outreach and education: Collaborative initiatives with community organizations will educate tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities under Pasadena's rent stabilization law (Charter Article XVIII); and
• Supporting the PRHB to fulfill its policy development functions, processes and facilitate public meetings.

The petitions and hearings program launched in February 2025. The Department has since received 138 petitions. The goal of this service is to expand the department's capacity to manage potential increases in petitions. More information about petitions and hearing can be accessed via its website: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization/petitions-hearings/