What is rent control?

Rent control, or rent stabilization, is much more than the 4% maximum increase to which people refer. It is a collection of laws that regulate how much a landlord can raise (or must reduce) the rent, limit the reasons for eviction, and more. Rent control and eviction protections work together, so that the landlord doesn't get around a rent limit by evicting the tenant, instead, or vice versa. Rent control is part of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, the ordinances which specially regulate things within the city. The rights you have living in Los Angeles depend on whether your rental unit is under rent control. For those under rent restrictions, the legal maximum increase had been 3% for the past several years, as of July, 2006, the maximum base increase is now 4%. This "base" amount is subject to 3 different types of surcharges. (1) If an additional person (not replacement) moves in (other than the first minor child) and resides there more than 30 days (not visiting friend who ...  more

Rent control is the act of a governing body exerting control over how much landlords may raise rent. Several major cities in the US have rent control, most notably New York City. In cities, the city government usually enacts rent control laws. There are opponents to and proponents of rent control. Opponents feel rent control strips landlords of their rights as property owners, since it does dictate how much a landlord can charge once a tenant is established. They also feel that new people to an area must pay a high price for rent control of established tenants, since such control does not always exist for new tenants. In other words, rents rise because established tenants are not likely to move and give up the advantage of paying rents that are below market value. Thus available properties are offered at very high rents. If rent control were abolished, then rents would go up for some but would stabilize so that new renters would not have to pay overwhelmingly high prices. Opponents ...  more

Rent control covers about 50,000 apartments occupied largely by an elderly, low income population who have been in occupancy since July 1, 1971 or by their lawful successors. Apartments under rent control become decontrolled upon vacancy. Rent control limits the rent an owner may charge for an apartment and restricts the right of an owner to evict tenants. It also obligates the owner to provide essential services and equipment.  more