Expanded Los Angeles Renter Protections

The renter protections in the City of Los Angeles have been broadened to include all rental property, which includes condominiums and single-family homes.

New Laws in the City of Los Angeles

Renter Protections Notice

As of January 27, 2023, all owners of residential rental properties are required to furnish a “Notice of Renters’ Protections” to tenants who commence or renew their tenancy. Additionally, the notice must be displayed in a common area that is easily accessible to tenants.

Eviction Notices

In the city of Los Angeles, landlords must file all eviction notices served to tenants with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) within three (3) business days of service to the tenant.

NonPayment of Rent

Starting from February 1, 2023, tenants are required to pay the full monthly rent. However, low-income renters who are financially impacted by COVID-19 are still protected until March 31, 2023. If unable to pay the rent on time, renters must notify their landlord within seven days of the due date and provide proof of their income level. Eligible tenants are given until March 31, 2024, to repay any unpaid rent for February and/or March 2023.

Fair Market Rent

Starting March 27, 2023, landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants for rent arrears unless the amount owed surpasses the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for their rental unit’s bedroom size. The FMR varies based on the number of bedrooms in the unit. For instance, if a tenant rents a one-bedroom unit for $1,500 per month, the landlord cannot initiate an eviction as the rent owed is below the FMR for a one-bedroom unit.

Click here to view the Economic Threshold Fair Market Rent Per Bedroom Size Table

At Fault Evictions

Starting January 27, 2023, all renters in Los Angeles are entitled to eviction protections, requiring landlords to have a valid legal reason for eviction. For rental units that are not governed by the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), tenants are safeguarded at the conclusion of their initial lease or six months after the start of their initial lease, whichever occurs first.

Allowable at fault reasons include:

• non-payment of rent; 
• violation of a lease/rental agreement; 
• causing or permitting a nuisance; 
• using the unit for an illegal purpose such as drugs & gangs; 
• failure to renew a similar lease; 
• denial of access into the rental unit; 
• being an unapproved subtenant at the end of the tenancy; and 
• failure to comply with an approved Tenant Habitability Plan (THP).

No Fault Reasons include

• for occupancy by the owner, family member, or a resident manager; 
• compliance with a  government order; 
• demolition or permanent removal from the rental housing market; or 
• to convert the property to affordable housing.

Relocation Assistance

All no fault evictions for all residential units require the landlord to pay relocation assistance to their tenant.

In the city of Los Angeles, landlords can legally evict tenants for the following reasons: when the rental unit is required for occupancy by the owner, a family member, or a resident manager; when it is necessary to comply with a government order; when the rental unit is being demolished or permanently removed from the rental housing market; or when the property is being converted to affordable housing.

Rent Increases

Starting February 1, 2024, landlords of RSO properties are allowed to increase rent. However, retroactive or banking increases are not permitted. From April 1, 2023, landlords can add new cost recovery surcharges, as approved by LAHD, provided they give a written notice to the tenant 30 days in advance.

COVID-19 Rental Debt

Here’s how rent that became due COVID-19 period will be repaid.

• Rent that became due between 03/01/20 – 09/30/21 must be paid by or on 08/01/23.
• Rent that became due between 10/01/21 – 01/31/23 must be paid by or on 02/01/24.

Economic Displacement

Starting March 27, 2023, tenants who cannot afford a rent increase of over ten percent (10%) within 12 months have the choice to receive relocation assistance instead of paying the increased rent. The amount of relocation assistance will depend on the number of bedrooms in the rental unit. If the rental is a single family dwelling (SFD), and the owner is a natural person with no more than four residential units and a SFD on a separate lot, the relocation assistance is one month’s rent. The relocation assistance payment can be reduced by the tenant’s unpaid rental debt.

Please visit https://housing.lacity.org for more information, forms and more!