What You Need to Know about LA's Renter Protections
Landlord & Tenant Updates
Protections Notice
All landlords of residential properties must provide a Notice of Renters’ Protections to tenants who begin or renew their tenancy on or after January 27, 2023. This notice must also be posted in an accessible common area of the property. Click here to download the Protections Notice.
RSO Annual Rent Increase
Annual rent increases for rental units subject to the City of Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, is 4%. If the landlord provides gas and electric service to the tenant, an additional 1% can be added. State law requires landlords to provide an advance 30-day written notice for rent increases of less than 10%.
To determine if your unit is subject to the RSO, click here (zimas.lacity.org). Enter your address, click the Housing tab and the RSO status for the property will be indicated. For questions, please call the LAHD hotline at 866-557-7368.
RSO rent increases are permitted once every 12 months.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy/Eviction Filing
Effective January 27, 2023, any written notice terminating a tenancy for a tenant at-fault legal reason must be filed with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) within three (3) business days of service on the tenant per Los Angeles Municipal Code 151.09.C.9 & 165.05.B.5. At-fault eviction notices can be uploaded here. All no-fault evictions must be filed with LAHD, submit required fees, and pay the tenant relocation assistance. Please click here for the Declaration of Intent to Evict forms required for all no-fault reasons and information on how to submit the forms.
Just Cause Tenant Eviction Protections
Effective January 27, 2023, eviction protections now apply to most rental properties in the City of Los Angeles, including single-family homes, and condominiums. Rental units built after October 1, 1978, that are not currently covered by the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) are covered by the City’s Just Cause Eviction Protections Ordinance. Tenants become protected at the end of their first lease, or 6 months after a new lease, whichever comes first. The new protections require that landlords must have a legal reason to evict a tenant. Tenant no-fault evictions require the payment of relocation assistance such as owner occupancy, government order, demolition, or withdrawal of the rental property from the rental housing market. Click here for a list of at-fault legal reasons for eviction. Click here for a list of no-fault legal reasons for eviction.
State Law on Non-Payment of Rent Eviction Protections
Tenants who provided their landlord with a COVID-19 Related Declaration of Financial Distress Form by the 15-Day deadline for rent owed from March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020, cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent from that period. A landlord can pursue a court action in small claims court for this rent. Tenants who provided their landlord with a COVID-19 Related Declaration of Financial Distress Form by the 15-Day deadline AND paid 25% of their rent to the landlord for rent owed from September 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent from that period. A landlord can pursue a court action in small claims court for this rent.
Evictions for Non-Payment of Rent
Effective March 27, 2023, landlords may not evict a tenant who falls behind in rent unless the tenant owes an amount higher than the Fair Market Rent (FMR). The FMR depends on the bedroom size of the rental unit. For example, if a tenant rents a 1-bedroom unit and the rent is $1,500, the landlord cannot evict the tenant since the rent owed is less than the FMR for a 1-bedroom unit.
Economic Displacement (More than 8.9% Rent Increase)
Tenants who receive a rent increase of more than 8.9% (from 8/1/2024 to 7/31/2025), within 12 months and are unable to afford the rent increase have the option to receive relocation assistance to move out of their rental unit instead. The relocation amount is based on the bedroom size of the rental unit. Relocation assistance for tenants who rent a Single Family Dwelling (SFD) is one month’s rent if the landlord is a natural person who owns no more than four (4) residential units and an SFD on a separate lot in the City of Los Angeles.
Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance
On June 23, 2021, the Los Angeles City Council adopted the Tenant Anti- Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) #187109 which prohibits landlords from harassing tenants by actions such as removing housing services, withholding repairs or refusing to accept rent payments. The Ordinance applies to ALL residential units in the City of Los Angeles. For more information, click here.
Stay Housed LA Service
Stay Housed L.A. is a partnership between Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and local community and legal service providers. The program provides free legal assistance to tenants facing wrongful eviction. Income eligible tenants receive the legal help they need to stay in their homes. For more information, visit https://www.stayhousedla.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE (JCO)
Q: What units are covered by the Just Cause Ordinance (JCO)?
A: The Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) covers most residential properties in the City of Los Angeles that are not regulated by the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. In order to apply for a tenancy, it requires that the tenant either has lived in the same unit for 6 months or that their initial original lease expired, whichever comes first. There are other specific exceptions to the JCO such as licensed care facilities, landlord roommates, transient hotels, some non-profits facilities for the homeless or short term treatments related to substance abuse, HACLA owned properties and government paid for rent to help homeless.
The JCO requires a legal reason to terminate tenancy and requires relocation assistance for no-fault evictions but does not regulate rent increases.
Q: Are single-family dwellings (SFD) covered by the Just Cause Ordinance (JCO)?
A: Yes, SFDs are covered under JCO. However, the relocation assistance amount varies. If the owner of the SFD is a natural person, including natural persons who hold properties in a trust or registered legal entity controlled by a natural person, who owns no more than four dwelling units and a SFD on a separate lot in the City of Los Angeles, the relocation assistance amount is one month’s rent that was in effect when the landlord served the written notice to terminate the tenancy.
Q: Does the Just Cause Ordinance regulate rent increases?
A: No, the JCO only provides legal reasons for eviction. However, AB 1482 may regulate the rent amount in buildings that are at least 15 years or older. Effective August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025, the maximum allowable increase is 8.9%. (The percentage may change every year. Annual rent increases are limited to no more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living for the region in which the property is located, or 10% whichever is lower).
PROTECTIONS NOTICE
Q: I am a landlord and my tenant moved in two years ago, do I still have to post the new Notice since it was before January 27, 2023?
A: Yes, you must post the Notice on the property and only issue the Notice to the tenant if they moved in or renewed their tenancy on or after January 27, 2023. The Notice must be posted in an accessible common area of the property. If a common area does not exist, post it where it is visible to the tenant(s).
Q: I noticed the Protections Notice has been updated. How often is it updated?
A: The Protections Notice is updated at least twice a year. It is updated every July 1st, since the RSO annual rent increase percentage and relocation amounts will change. The Notice is also updated if there are new laws or charts that need to be updated.
EVICTION NOTICES
Q: I am a landlord and want to know if I have to file the eviction notice with LAHD after I serve the tenant a 3-Day Notice or when I file the Unlawful Detainer in Court.
A: In this case, the 3-Day Notice must be filed with LAHD within 3 business days of being provided to the tenant.
Q: I am a tenant. How do I know if my landlord filed the 3-day Notice with the Department?
A: To determine if a Notice has been filed with LAHD, please use this link to look up property information.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
Q: I noticed relocation assistance for a Single-Family Dwelling (SFD) is lower for a no-fault eviction for properties subject to JCO. Is a condominium the same as an SFD?
A: No, a condominium is not a Single-Family Dwelling. Therefore, a condominium would not be eligible for the lower relocation amount for a no-fault eviction under JCO or for economic displacement. View the relevant ordinance here.
Q: What is the difference between eligible and qualified tenants for relocation assistance?
A: The amount of relocation assistance depends on whether the tenant is Eligible or Qualified, the length of the tenancy, and the tenant’s income. You may learn more about relocation assistance here.
