Did you know that L.A. City’s existing rent stabilization rules have allowed annual rent increases to significantly outpace inflation? Back in November, the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) shared a report with the L.A. City Council that recommended capping the maximum allowable rent increase—something we continue to fight for as part of the Keep LA Housed Coalition (KLAH). 

(Our proposal? Keep it capped so it never exceeds 3% annually, with no minimum floor— meaning it’s fine if it’s 0%!)

Although we suspect this matter will return to Council sometime in February, it does mean that rents will increase at a higher percentage tomorrow (February 1) for many already rent-burdened tenants across the city. 

So how much can your landlord legally raise the rent as of February 1? Naturally, it depends:

• For L.A. City:
  • Between July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, landlords are permitted to raise rents for units protected by the L.A. Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO) by up to 4% every 12 months, plus an additional 1% if the landlord pays for gas and 1% if they pay for electricity.
    • LARSO applies to units that are located in the City of Los Angeles, were built before October 1, 1978, and are part of a property with two or more units. You can check the status of your unit at https://zimas.lacity.org/.
• For unincorporated L.A. County:
  • Beginning January 1, 2025, rents for most units covered by the Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protection Ordinance (RSTPO) cannot be raised more than 3% every 12 months. Landlords who qualify and self-certify with the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs as “small property landlords” can raise the rent an additional 1%, up to a max of 4%. 
  • RSTPO applies to units that are located in unincorporated L.A. County, have a Certificate of Occupancy on or before February 1, 1995, and are part of a property with two or more units.
    
• Elsewhere in California:
  • Assembly Bill 1482 (AB1482) gives tenants who live in the state some protection against excessive rent increases. To qualify, your unit must have been built before January 1, 2005. Single-family homes are not covered unless owned by corporate landlords. 
  • AB 1482 caps annual rent increases to 5% plus a percentage (tied to the Consumer Price Index) for the region in which the property is located OR 10%, whichever is lower.
    • As of August 2024, the maximum allowable annual rent increase in the Los Angeles Area is restricted to 8.9% (5% + CPI of 3.9%)
  • Note that AB 1482 does not replace, amend, or remove L.A. City’s LARSO or L.A. County’s RSTPO laws. If your unit is already covered by local rent-stabilization protections, this statewide law does not apply. 

And remember—California State law requires landlords to provide an advance 30-day written notice for all rent increases of less than 10%. If the rent increase is for more than 10%, you must be given a 90-day written notice.

In better news, as of the new year, renters across L.A. County are more protected under new laws than they were last December:

Evictions

• California tenants now have more time to respond to evictions! If you receive an eviction notice (also called an Unlawful Detainer—Summons and Complaint), you will have ten (10) court days to file your Answer. Day 1 starts the day after you are served the eviction notice. Do not count weekends or court holidays. 

You should always file an Answer with the court. If you do not, your landlord may automatically win the eviction lawsuit against you without a trial. Answering buys you time and a court date, and you can always use the Debt Collective’s easy-to-use Tenant Power Toolkit to help you fill out the corresponding paperwork. More information and resources can also be found on our website.

Right to Counsel

• Low-income tenants in unincorporated L.A. County have the right to an attorney if/when they receive an eviction notice. You can check whether you are eligible for the county’s Right to Counsel program by contacting Stay Housed LA.

Protecting Tenant Safety

• L.A. City’s Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance is stronger than ever, with increased penalties for landlords who harass tenants. Tenant harassment now qualifies as an affirmative defense in eviction court. Lawyers can also collect court fees on affirmative cases, which is sure to help more tenants bring chronic harassment cases before a judge.
• Landlords are required to change the locks within 24 hours upon receiving notice that a tenant has experienced abuse or violence. If the landlord fails to change the locks, the tenant has the right to change the locks themselves with reimbursement from the landlord within 21 days. The tenant must provide the landlord with a key to the new locks. 

Applications, Fees & Reporting

• Landlords must provide their screening criteria in writing to applicants when they request the application. Application fees are now only allowed if landlords accept applications in the order they’re received, and approve the first qualified applicant. Landlords are also required to provide all applicants a copy of any credit report ordered on their behalf within seven (7) days of receiving it.
• Landlords cannot charge tenants any fee for paying rent or a security deposit via check, nor can they charge for serving, posting, or delivering any notices related to tenancy. 
• Beginning in April, landlords of buildings with fifteen (15) or more units are now required to report positive rental payments to credit bureaus to boost tenant credit scores if the tenant requests this service. 

Security Deposits

Landlords will be required to take photos of a unit after move-out, as well as before and after any necessary repairs or cleaning, in order to better protect tenants from having security deposits stolen. Tenants now have the right to request to be present during the move-out inspection conducted by the landlord, and landlords are required to send tenants an itemized statement that details any deductions from the security deposit. 

Remember: landlords can only deduct materials, supplies, and/or repairs that are necessary to return the rental unit to the conditions it was at the start of the tenancy. This does not include ordinary wear and tear, and, after two years, this does not include paint. A landlord can no longer mandate tenants to pay for professional cleaning unless it’s absolutely necessary to restore the unit to its original condition. 

While we celebrate these wins, we acknowledge the ongoing crisis now exacerbated by LA County’s historic fires. As part of our work as SAJE and in coalition with organizations across the city, we’ll continue working for a future where all tenants know and assert their rights and can enjoy the healthy, dignified comfort of their homes.