Journal · selling
Do other sellers weigh renting it out?
In Zillow's 2025 national survey of recent sellers, 68% said they at least thought about renting their home out before selling, and 28% seriously considered it.
What does renting mean in Pasadena?
The City of Pasadena says Measure H treats single-family homes and condos in two different ways:
- Rent limits: they are not covered by the City's rent limits.
- Evictions: they are covered by its just-cause eviction provisions, “regardless of when they were built.” The City notes these provisions include relocation assistance requirements.
- Owner duties: owners of covered units must pay interest on security deposits, register the unit in the Rental Registry, and pay the annual Rental Housing Fee.
The fee. For fiscal year 2026–2027, the City of Pasadena lists the Rental Housing Fee at $236.54 per unit. It cannot be passed on to tenants. Rules and fees as of November 1, 2026; they change, so check the official source.
Just causes. The City of Pasadena lists eleven just causes for ending a covered tenancy. Two of them are an owner or qualified relative moving in and permanently withdrawing the unit from the rental market; selling the home is not one of the listed causes.
Temporary rentals. The City of Pasadena describes a narrow exception for an owner's own single-family home rented temporarily: no more than 12 months in any 36-month period, with the tenant told in writing.
State law. The City also notes that the state Tenant Protection Act may apply. Its rent cap, Civil Code section 1947.12, lists properties that are exempt, such as some single-family homes owned by individuals when the tenants get a written exemption notice, and it is set to remain in effect until January 1, 2030. Local ordinances such as Measure H add their own rules as well.
Before you sign a lease, ask a real estate attorney how these rules would apply to your house and to a later sale with a tenant in place. More on that in Can I sell my house with tenants in it?
Why does the answer depend on your home?
The sell-or-rent math is personal:
- What it would sell for now, based on recent nearby sales.
- What it would rent for, minus the fee, upkeep, insurance and vacancy.
- Repairs. What you'd fix before selling compared with before renting.
- Your own tax picture. Ask a tax adviser how selling now or later would affect you.
- The presale certificate. Whenever you do sell, the City of Pasadena requires one before escrow closes. See Do I need a presale certificate to sell my house in Pasadena?
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How do you find what it would sell for?
A home value review gives you an opinion of value for your address, based on recent nearby sales. That's the number to set against the rent. It's a personal review of your address by Sidney Manzo, not an automated estimate. No obligation to list.
Questions homeowners ask next
- Is a rented single-family home in Pasadena under rent control?
- The City of Pasadena says condominiums and single-family homes are not covered by its Measure H rent limits, but they are covered by its just-cause eviction provisions, regardless of when they were built. Those provisions include relocation assistance requirements. The state Tenant Protection Act may also apply. Ask a real estate attorney how these rules would apply to your house before you sign a lease.
- Do I have to register a rented house with the City of Pasadena?
- Yes. The City of Pasadena says owners of rented single-family homes and condos must register the unit in the Rental Registry each year and pay the annual Rental Housing Fee. For fiscal year 2026–2027, the City lists the fee at $236.54 per unit, and it cannot be passed on to tenants. Owners of covered units must also pay interest on security deposits.
- Can I sell later if a tenant is living there?
- Selling the home is not one of the eleven just causes the City of Pasadena lists for ending a covered tenancy, so a sale alone does not end the lease. Two of the listed causes are an owner or qualified relative moving in and permanently withdrawing the unit from the rental market, and the City lists extra notice and relocation requirements for both. Ask a real estate attorney before you count on either one.
- Is there an exception if I rent my own home for a short time?
- The City of Pasadena describes a narrow exception for an owner's own single-family home rented temporarily: no more than 12 months in any 36-month period, with the tenant told in writing. Because it is narrow, read the City's rules and ask a real estate attorney before you rely on it. Outside that exception, a rented house falls under the just-cause eviction rules described above.
- What should I compare before deciding?
- Compare what the house would sell for today with the rent you'd collect after the Rental Housing Fee, upkeep, insurance and vacancy. Add what you would fix before selling compared with before renting, and how a later sale with a tenant in place could affect your options. A home value review gives you an opinion of value for your address, which is the sale side of that comparison.
Sources
- zillow.com/research/sellers-housing-trends-report-2025/
- cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization/info-sheets/is-my-unit-covered/
- cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization/rental-registry/
- cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization/info-sheets/just-cause-for-eviction-overview/
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1947.12