Topline: <\/p>\n
Allowable rent increases in the Greater Los Angeles area will tick upward on Aug. 1 under a state law that covers many local tenants.<\/p>\n
The details: Starting Saturday, the ceiling on annual rent hikes under the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 will go from 8.0% to 8.7% in L.A. and Orange counties. In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the ceiling will rise from 7.5% to 8.1%.<\/p>\n
How the limits work: The state law, AB 1482<\/a>, applies to renters living in mobile homes or in apartments that were constructed more than 15 years ago. Newer properties are not covered. Neither are single-family homes and condos, unless they\u2019re owned by a corporate entity.<\/p>\n Keep up with LAist.<\/p>\n If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. <\/p>\n The context: The law is also superseded by local rent control laws<\/a>, which tend to impose tougher limits. For example, the current rent control cap in the city of L.A. is 3%. Other cities in the region with limits below the state law\u2019s cap include: Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Culver City, Huntington Park, Pomona, Santa Ana and West Hollywood.<\/p>\n Why now? The statewide caps reset in August each year, and they\u2019re determined by recent regional inflation data. April\u2019s consumer price index for the L.A. area rose by 3.7%, driven by surging grocery and gasoline prices. The California law allows landlords to tack on an extra 5% to the inflation figure, bringing the new limit to 8.7%. That’s a slight jump from last year, when an inflation reading of 3% kept the limit in L.A. and Orange counties at 8.0%.<\/p>\n Did you get a bigger rent hike? Renters who believe their landlord has violated their tenant rights may qualify for free or low-cost legal aid. To find a legal aid office near you, visit lawhelpca.org<\/a> and click on the \u201cFind Legal Help\u201d tab.<\/p>\n