With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
The amount LA landlords can raise your rent goes down slightly in August

Topline:
Allowable rent increases in Southern California will tick downward tomorrow under a state law that covers many local tenants.
The details: Starting Friday, the ceiling on annual rent hikes under the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 will be 8% across the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. That’s a slight decline from the 8.9% limit that has been in effect since Aug. 1, 2024.
How the limits work: The state law, also known as AB 1482, covers renters living in apartments constructed more than 15 years ago. Newer properties are not covered. Neither are single-family homes and condos, unless they’re owned by a corporate entity.
The context: The law is also trumped by local rent control laws, which tend to impose tougher limits. For example, current rent control limits in the city of L.A. range between 3% and 5%. Other cities in the region with limits below the state law’s cap include Santa Monica, Pasadena and Santa Ana.
Why now? The statewide caps reset in August of each year, and they’re determined by recent regional inflation data. April’s consumer price index for the L.A. area rose by 3%. The California law allows landlords to tack on an extra 5% to that figure, bringing the new limit to 8%. Inflation was running higher last year, which is why state law previously allowed increases of up to 8.9%.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.