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To Live And Rent In LA
Your guide to renting in this complicated — and expensive — city.
Rent Control
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Allowable rent hikes depend on where you live and in what type of building. We did the hard work to help you figure it all out. -
Rent hike limits under a key state law changed little for many SoCal renters in 2024. Here’s what to do if your landlord demands more. -
Despite COVID rent freezes, tenants still get demands from landlords to pay more. Whether they can fight back depends on where they live. -
The new 3% cap would take effect at the start of 2025. But it's limited to people living in pre-1995 buildings in unincorporated areas. We help make sense of the confusing rules.
LAist reporters and a panel of experts answered your questions about the latest renter rules in L.A. County.
Key Coverage
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Barrington Plaza landlord says it needs to halt business for fire safety repairs. Tenants say their apartments will still be rented after they’re kicked out. -
Los Angeles allows higher rent increases than other neighboring cities with rent control. There’s a new push to change the rules. -
Renters say landlords aren’t fixing unhealthy living conditions. Will a new approach to code enforcement succeed where existing efforts have failed? -
The city passed a law against harassing renters in 2021. But tenant advocates say enforcement has been lacking. -
Now that L.A. officials know who landlords are trying to evict, city workers are showing up at renters’ doorsteps to offer help. -
A new proposal would keep eviction protections in place for renters in the city of L.A. who adopted COVID cats or pandemic pups.
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The Family Housing Crunch
Millennial parents across Los Angeles are considering moving away due to the region’s severe lack of affordable family-sized housing.
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The severe lack of family friendly housing has millennial parents asking: Is leaving Southern California our only option? -
Everyone agrees the shortage is real and damaging. Potential solutions: Incentives, requirements, even a return to government-owned housing. -
Empty nesters own more L.A. homes than millennials with kids. Here’s how some older homeowners are finding ways to spread their wealth.
Affordable Housing
We've been covering the state of affordable housing in L.A. in this 4-part series.
Affordable housing is explicitly exempted from state and local laws that limit the size of rent increases. This is the final part of a four-part series.
Read the full series below:
Read the full series below:
Understanding Section 8
What is Section 8?
Section 8 is the country’s largest rental assistance program, providing federal subsidies that enable low-income tenants to pay no more than a third of their income on rent.
But the number of vouchers pales in comparison to the overwhelming demand for affordable housing in cities like Los Angeles, where sharply rising rents have long outpaced sluggish wage growth.
If you’re facing a rent increase, eviction or need help affording rent in L.A. check out this list of resources.
LAist Exclusive Investigation
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Dennis Block runs what he calls a 'leading eviction law firm.' A judge said legal citations submitted in Block's name for a case were fake. Experts told LAist the errors likely stemmed from AI misuse. -
Most L.A. tenants don’t have an attorney in eviction court. If you’re facing an eviction, here’s how to start looking for legal aid.
Latest Renting Stories
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A new report finds that L.A.’s new anti-rent gouging laws have not resulted in lawsuits or fines against landlords who jacked up rents after the fires. -
The proposed legislation would call on the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to set new standards for removing post-fire contamination. -
Measure ULA funds tenant aid by taxing mansion sales. But it also taxes new apartments. Multiple ballot initiatives are seeking changes — or repeal. -
A new City Council motion seeks to ask voters to change Measure ULA, including a tax exemption for new apartment buildings. -
The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose implementation of SB 79, calling for a countywide exemption. -
After pulling funds from the agency that led L.A.’s homelessness response for years, county officials say their new approach will be more accountable. -
These programs give struggling landlords a way to raise rents above what local caps normally allow. But few apply, and even fewer get approved. LAist asked why. -
Dave Goldstein says Scorpio tenants are “particular” and Libras are “gold.” Housing rights attorneys say there’s no specific law against asking, but it’s legally dicey. -
Attorney Dennis Block is accused of keeping unearned fees, not paying court sanctions on time and representing both tenant and landlord in a dispute. -
The president says large investors are killing the dream of homeownership. But in the Golden State, few homes are owned by such institutional buyers.
