Rent Freeze in City of Los Angeles Remains in Effect for all Properties Subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance

Two years into this pandemic with staggering inflation, and the City of Los Angeles's RENT FREEZE for rental units subject to the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) still remains in effect.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, the owner of a rent stabilized rental unit is allowed to increase the rent annually a minimum of 3% and up to 8% as established by the City based on the change in the annual Consumer Price Index. The Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance further provides that if an owner provides for utilities, the owner is entitled to an extra 1% rent increase for electrical and an extra 1% rent increase for gas.

In January 2019, HCIDLA (now again known as the Los Angeles Housing Department) posted the ″Rent Stabilization Update, stating that the annual allowable rent increase for rental units subject to the RSO for the fiscal year July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 was 3%, and that the annual allowable rent increase for the fiscal year July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 was 4%. (LAMC 151.07A.6)″.

In March of 2020, however, the City of Los Angeles instituted a RENT FREEZE on all rent stabilized properties.

"property owners shall not increase rent on occupied rental units subject to the RSO beginning on the date of this order (March 30, 2020) through 60 days after the expiration of the local emergency period (which is still ongoing as of May 2022). This order suspends any conflicting provisions of Chapter 14 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.″

At the same time, the Los Angeles Housing Department added that all renters must be provided with a copy of the ″Los Angeles COVID-19 Renter Protection Fact Sheet″ with any notice of termination of tenancy both during the local emergency and for one year thereafter.

Paragraph 3 of the Los Angeles COVID-19 Renter Protection Fact Sheet, states that "no rent increase that became effective on or after March 30, 2020 … or allowable for property subject to the RSO … [shall be valid] unless approved by the LAHD until one year after the local emergency expires. Rent increases do not accumulate during the one-year period.″

In January of 2021 and again in January of 2022, the Los Angeles Housing Department did NOT publish an advisory regarding the allowable rent increase, or any update and Mayor Garcetti's initial emergency declaration from March of 2020 still remains in effect.

Please be aware that the laws have been changing quite frequently and this article may not reflect current rules. Please do not rely on this article when making legal decisions.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues in this Articles with Melissa Marsh, a Los Angeles, California landlord-tenant attorney with over 25 years’ experience, please schedule a low cost 30 minute Telephone Consultation..

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