I get many questions about the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance from landlords and tenants who are often confused by what exactly the rent control ordinance controls and what it does not address.
The Los Angeles Housing and Community Development Department has a Bulletin on what the Department does and does not do for both landlords and tenants that I think is informative.
Basically, the Los Angeles’ rent control applies to all units built before 1978 in the City of Los Angeles. It is important to note that rent control does not apply to cities and other areas outside of the City of Los Angeles. Further, it does not apply to single family homes within the City of Los Angeles. Thus, a renter in a single family home can be served a 30 or 60 Day Notice to Quit while a renter in a multifamily apartment building in Los Angeles that was built before 1978 cannot be served a 30 or 60 Day Notice to Quit for no reason.
Los Angeles’ rent control regulates rents once a tenant moves in. For example, this year a landlord can only raise a tenant’s rent 3% once in the past twelve months. A landlord can also raise the rent an additional 1% for gas and 1% for electricity if the landlord pays for these utilities. A landlord can also raise a security deposit annually by the same annual percentage at the same time a landlord raises the rent.
Under Los Angeles’ rent control, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without cause. A landlord must comply with the legal reasons for an eviction under Los Angeles’ rent control.
If you have questions about Los Angeles’ rent control, please contact Anthony at 818-839-5220.
