Title
Study Session: Rent and the Treatment of Utilities in the CSFRA and Ratio Utility Billing Systems
Recommended Action
That the Rental Housing Committee (RHC):
•Receive a presentation on the definition of “rent” and the treatment/inclusion of utilities as part of the rent as stipulated in the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA).
•Receive information about the use of Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) by landlords to separately bill utilities for CSFRA tenants, causing monthly fluctuations in rent.
•Receive a summary of the results of the stakeholder meetings held February 28, 2023 (Landlord meeting), March 2, 2023 (Tenant meeting) and March 21 (General Session) as well as the feedback received during individual meetings.
•Provide initial input on and parameters for developing regulations for consideration by the RHC on the use of RUBS to provide consistent application of the CSFRA requirements regarding lawful rents and rent increases.