The City Council directed staff on Tuesday to find ways to deter Santa Monica landlords from illegally renting rent control units that have been removed from the market.

The motion by Councilmember Kevin McKeown, which was approved unanimously without discussion, did not indicate if the practice is widespread.

"As a City of mostly renters, Santa Monicans are threatened by many things," McKeown said, noting that notable among them is the 1985 Ellis Act that allows California rent control landlords to get out of the rental business.

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