Santa Barbara’s push for safer housing continues — and while we agree that renter safety is non-negotiable, recent policy shifts are sending a clear message to property owners: the rules of the game are changing fast.
The Isla Vista Housing Inspection Plan, recently greenlit by the county, introduces routine inspections every four years for all rental housing in Isla Vista. You can read more in the Santa Barbara Independent’s article here.
This program is aimed at cracking down on substandard rental conditions — and it’s no secret that Isla Vista has a history of neglected properties and absentee landlords. We don’t deny that. As a company that believes deeply in proactive property care, we applaud the effort to protect renters and enforce basic habitability standards.
But here’s the concern:
This plan piggybacks on similar regulations like SB 721, which requires balcony and elevated walkway inspections for multifamily properties. Add in newer restrictions on rent increases, security deposits (see AB 12 and AB 2801), and the growing stack of required disclosures — and many landlords are reaching a breaking point.
We’re seeing more long-time rental owners ask: Is it worth staying in this business anymore?
Inspections and safety? Absolutely important.
But the layers of regulation — combined with inconsistent enforcement and growing liability — are choking out small, well-intentioned landlords, many of whom provide the very “naturally affordable” housing the county claims to be losing.
We encourage local leaders to engage with the real people behind these rentals — not just the worst-case examples. We need housing policies that encourage good property stewardship, not just punish the bad actors.
At Mission City, we remain committed to high-quality, people-first property management. We welcome accountability — but we also believe owners deserve a voice in how new regulations are rolled out.
