Renting is one of the most popular ways of earning revenue in California. However, it can be a complex thing to navigate and maintain, especially if you’re planning to rent your home or commercial property.
This is why you must understand the local and state laws and adhere to them to prevent any kind of legal and financial lawsuits.
And if you’re thinking of renting an apartment, it’s even more important to know your rights and duties so that you can prevent unfair evictions.
Nearly 44% of California residents rent their homes, which makes it the second-largest population of tenants in the US. So, here are some of the key things you must know about rent control laws in Los Angeles!
1. When rent cannot be increased
If there’s a fixed-term lease for the rent, the landlord is prohibited from increasing the rent based on caste, gender, disability, or familial status. It also applies to certain types of retaliation made by the tenant, including complaints about pests or plumbing problems, among others.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act of California also prevents discrimination based on:
- Source of income
- Mother language
- Medical conditions
- Immigration status
- Veteran or military status
- Physical features
The California law also prohibits landlords from raising the rent in reprisal. If any action takes place within 180 days of the action taken by the tenant, then this will be considered retaliatory.
2. Rent Stabilisation Ordinance
The Rent Stabilisation Ordinance (RSO) applies to rental units in California that were built on or before 1st October 1978. Basically, it puts a cap on the increase in rent per year based on the consumer price index (CPI).
For the period starting from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025, the rent can be increased by a maximum of 4%. If the landlord also provides electricity and gas services along with the rent, they may increase it by an additional 1%.
For tenants, the RSO provides an additional layer of security, stating that a landlord can only evict the tenant on the grounds of non-payment of due rent or violating lease terms.
3. How to check if the property is rent-controlled
When it comes to Los Angeles, it’s quite easy to understand whether or not the property is rent-controlled. All you have to do is type your address into ZIMAS (Zone Information and Map Access System), a public website with the city of Los Angeles mapped out.
You can check for different criteria like environmental, permits and zoning laws, and even public safety standards. Under the “Housing” tab of ZIMAS, you can check if the property is rent-controlled.
You might find that only older houses have the provision of rent control, which is because the Los Angeles City Council had temporarily frozen rents starting from 1st October 1978. During this time, the council had planned the details of the RSO, which applied to buildings that were built before the freeze occurred.
4. Rent Increase Amounts
The Tenant Protection Act states that landlords in California are only allowed to increase the rent by 5% plus 10% or the annual inflation rate, depending on which one is lower. This rate of inflation is also called the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Most landlords prefer the 10% increase in rent because it’s less than the CPI, keeping inflation in mind. For Orange and Los Angeles County, you must calculate rent using the regional CPI.
Landlords in California are allowed to increase the rent by any amount when they’re signing a new lease agreement, provided no existing tenants are present. If you want more information on rent increase systems, you should get in touch with good property lawyers los angeles.
5. Resources for landlords and tenants
It can often be overwhelming for both landlords and tenants to understand rent control laws. This is why the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) offers a wide range of resources that will help them understand the California Tenant Protection Act (AB1482) better.
LAHD also conducts frequent workshops and online sessions, highlighting the roles and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have to follow. Moreover, the Bungalow Guide can offer insight into rent control regulations.
Conclusion
If there’s any disagreement between the tenant and the landlord, LAHD offers mediation services so that neither party goes to court. There are various legal aid organizations, too, that can serve as mediators between the two parties and help them reach an agreement. These groups also help with the rights and roles regarding law and order under rent control.