Some tenants in Los Angeles County may receive a 30-day notice of rent increases from their landlords on Thursday. Other tenants may have known about the price increase since July. The silver lining is that for many Californians, the amount of the increase is limited by law.
A statewide tenant protection law passed in 2019 limits how much landlords and property managers can increase rent each year.
Here’s a detailed look at how the law works and what you can expect.
How much can the rent increase?
As of August 1, the rent cap in Los Angeles County was 8.9%, according to the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. This is a slight increase from last year’s limit of 8.8%.
By law, inflation is taken into account each year. Rent may increase by 5% plus local cost of living changes.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index for the Los Angeles area in April was 3.9%. Adding 5% to the price index brings the upper limit for Los Angeles County to 8.9% this year. It is valid until August 1, 2025.
Under tenant protection laws, the total annual increase cannot exceed 10%. Since 2022, inflation has eased and every region in the state has met the requirements for a cap set at 10%.
Who is affected?
The law applies to most residential rentals in California, excluding homes built within the past 15 years. Tenants in new construction may be subject to higher markups from their landlords.
Some cities in California — including Los Angeles — have their own local rent control laws that further limit annual rent increases. The county noted that these local regulations take precedence.
The City of Los Angeles’ rent control restrictions, known as the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, cover properties built on or before October 1, 1978; properties built after July 15, 2007 that replace existing properties built on or before October 1, 1978 Demolition of rental units may also be covered.
The rental home can be an apartment, condo, townhouse, duplex, ADU, or a single-family home if there are two or more on the same lot.
You can find out online if your property is protected by the City of Los Angeles’ rent stabilization ordinance by entering your address.
Other Los Angeles County residents can contact their local city hall to find out if their city has any rent control restrictions.
Stay Housed LA, a coalition of legal aid organizations, also lists a number of cities in Los Angeles County and their unique rent increase protections. The Alliance can also provide guidance on how these rent increase rules apply to your rent.
