October 4, 2024
By Katie Wagman, SAJE Intern and UCLA Luskin Public Affairs Student
On September 24, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted to adopt a package of amendments to the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) after SAJE’s advocacy for stronger protections. TAHO was originally passed in 2021 and prohibits landlords from harassing tenants by removing housing services, withholding repairs, or refusing to accept rent payments.
Unfortunately, the ordinance has few enforcement mechanisms and leaves out important protections. Since it went into effect three years ago, over 13,000 complaints have been filed, yet only four fines have been issued. SAJE, working as part of the Keep LA Housed coalition, proposed to strengthen the law by amending it to create stricter penalties for violators and better protections for tenants.
In particular, SAJE and Keep LA Housed urged the L.A. City Council to pass four key amendments to TAHO shaped by input from SAJE members: ensure landlords are fined when they violate the ordinance, institute triple damages when landlords willfully engage in harassment, include additional remedies for emotional damages, and create affirmative defenses in eviction proceedings (meaning that the eviction would be blocked even if the tenant is technically violating the lease).
Other amendments to TAHO enhance tenant protections against harassment from landlords. They incorporate additional demands from SAJE members, including:
- Redefine harassment in line with established and more successful definitions from other jurisdictions.
- Reform of abusive right-to-entry practices.
- Require landlords to participate in rental assistance programs.
- Prohibit unilateral changes to material terms of a rental agreement or lease, unless otherwise required or authorized by law.
- Explicitly recognize the City of Los Angeles’ standing to bring TAHO claims.
- Strengthen the Ordinance’s enforcement remedies.
- Extend the statute of limitations for TAHO claims to three years.
Additionally, the amendments protect a tenant’s right to compensatory damages and refunds of up to $10,000 per violation if they win their case. They also introduce incentives for private attorneys to take on tenant harassment cases by establishing minimum penalties and requiring the attorney fees to be included in tenants’ court wins.
By working with community members, SAJE is able to understand the impact of policies and advocate for changes based on lived experience. SAJE’s Member Committee for Tenants’ Rights was integral in providing feedback for TAHO and advocating for strengthening the law. It’s through their public comment, meeting organization, and testimony that these amendments were passed.
This is a victory for SAJE and Los Angeles tenants. Landlords can now face tangible consequences for harassment, further safeguarding the right to a safe and secure living environment.
