by John Huetteman

Created on: March 30, 2010

A Complete Guide To Rent Control In Los Angeles, CA

Rent Control, also known in Los Angeles as the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, is codified into Chapter XV of the Los Angeles Municipal Code with a dual purpose: to allow landlords reasonable returns on their investments while protecting tenants from unreasonable rent increases.  The ordinance was established in response to a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary rental housing in the 

City of Los Angeles resulting in a low vacancy factor.  Residential rentals subject to the ordinance must be within the City of Los Angeles, contain two or more units on the lot, and have a Certificate of Occupancy issued on or before October 1, 1978, and include:

Apartments;

Condominiums;

Town homes;

Duplexes;

Two or more dwelling units on the same lot;

Mobile homes;

Mobile home pads; and

Rooms in a hotel, motel, rooming house or boarding house occupied by the same tenant for 30 or more consecutive days.

In general terms, Rent Control broadly covers:

Allowable rent increases;

Registration of rental units;

Eviction; and

Relocation assistance.

Allowable Rent Increases

Landlords with residential rentals subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance are required to either apply for an approval to increase rent or file a declaration where said increase in rents is due to capital improvement (the addition or replacement of an item in the rental unit or common areas of the housing complex containing the rental units, subject to minimum criteria), primary renovation (improvements to major building systems and the removal of hazardous materials, such as lead-based paint and asbestos), property rehabilitation (work required by the Dorothy Mae Ordinance that requires all pre-1943 residential buildings three or more stories in height to meet certain specified retroactive fire safety requirements) and just and reasonable rent increases.

Prior approval by the Los Angeles Housing Department is not required for once annual rental increases currently at 4%.

Registration of Rental Units

Landlords of residential rentals subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance may not demand or accept rent without first obtaining a valid rental unit registration certificate from the Los Angeles Housing Department.

Eviction

Under Rent Control, there are twelve legal reasons landlords may evict their tenants, which are primarily non-payment of rent and violations of terms and conditions.

Relocation Assistance

Rent Control in Los Angeles requires landlords to pay their tenants relocation assistance when evicting for the following reasons:

Owner or family member occupancy;

Eviction of a tenant for occupancy by a resident manager;

Demolition;

Permanent removal from the rental housing market;

Compliance with a Governmental Order; and

HUD reconveyance.

A complete guide to Rent Control in Los Angeles, CA can be found at the Los Angeles Housing Department website by navigating to the hyperlink here.

Whether or not a residential rental is subject to the ordinance as certain properties are exempt, landlords and tenants each have rights and responsibilities under California law.

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