HAVE YOU RECEIVED AN EVICTION LAWSUIT (CALLED A SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT - UNLAWFUL DETAINER(UD))?
If you have received a UD, you only have five (5) business days to file your response with the court. The response is called an Answer. If you do not file an Answer on time, you will automatically lose your eviction lawsuit without a trial.
For free legal services (income based) including assistance with filing your Answer, please visit stayhousedla.org. Additional legal referrals can be found here.
FILE A COMPLAINT FOR AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE (RSO)
The Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) covers rental housing units in the City of Los Angeles. Most rental units subject to the RSO were issued a Certificate of Occupancy from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety on or before October 1, 1978. If you have experienced a violation(s) of the RSO and have unsuccessfully resolved the issue(s) with your landlord, please click the Tenant Complaint Form below.
Reason for Complaint:
- Unit Not Registered (Applies only to RSO units)- Your rental unit is not registered.
- Illegal Eviction – Received a verbal or written notice to move out without a valid reason as listed under the RSO (Illegal Eviction in Español).
- Non-Payment of Relocation Assistance for Tenant No-Fault Eviction – Did not receive relocation assistance fees due to a no-fault eviction (Non-Payment of Relocation Assistance in Español).
- Illegal Rent Increase – Received a verbal or written notice demanding more rent than allowed or received a rent increase which is prohibited for RSO units through January 31, 2024.
- Reduction of Services (Applies only to RSO units)- A housing service provided to you at the beginning of your tenancy has been removed or is no longer accessible.
- Failure to Post Notice – The property has no protection notice posted in an accessible common area of the property.
- Illegal Buyout Agreement – (Applies to only RSO units) Received an offer or signed a buyout agreement in exchange to move out of your rental unit and the RSO Disclosure Notice was not given and/or the Buyout Agreement is not in compliance with the RSO.
- Required Online Payment/Electronic Fund Transfer – Your landlord has requested to only submit your rental payments online or by electronic fund transfer.
- Harassment – When a landlord knowingly takes actions that cause harm to a tenant and serves no lawful purpose – including repeated acts that substantially interfere with the comfort, peace, or quiet enjoyment of a tenant’s rental unit.
- Illegal Eviction Due to Tenant’s Rent Owed is Less Than the Fair Market Rent (FMR). Received a written notice of eviction for rent owed is less than the FMR for your rental unit size.
- Non-Payment of Relocation Assistance Due to Economic Displacement – Received a rent increase of more than 8.9% within 12 months and cannot afford the rent increase and elect to receive relocation assistance to move out of the rental unit. (8.9% valid from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025).
The LAHD Rent Stabilization Division Investigations and Enforcement Section can not address issues such as discrimination, retaliation, habitability, or return of security deposits. Such matters must be decided in court or for additional housing resources.
There is no charge for filing a complaint. There are no anonymous complaints since each requires documentation supporting the violation(s). The length of an investigation varies. If an investigation reveals a violation of the RSO or Just Cause Eviction Protections, you will be contacted before your landlord is notified of the violation(s).
FILE A COMPLAINT
ARCHIVE UNA QUEJA EN ESPAÑOL (Spanish)
Note: Information provided to the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) may be subject to the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
