Permanent rent control measures, known as stabilization ordinances were passed by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors earlier this month for eligible rental units in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Castaic and Stevenson Ranch.
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed two motions to provide significant tenant protections for Los Angeles County residents on Tuesday, September 10.
The measures were passed as a part of a joint effort set to be led by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) and the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA).
“The Board’s action on these two items represents an extraordinary expansion of the safety net for Los Angeles County renter households,” read a press release dated Sept. 10.
The two ordinances would limit annual rent increases, prohibit evictions without just cause, limit evictions arising from “owner move-ins,” and provide relocation assistance for eligible tenants evicted without fault, according to County officials.
“Today, the Board of Supervisors took a number of critically important steps to protect 100,000 men, women and children who live and rent in unincorporated L.A. County,” said 3rd District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “Our temporary rent stabilization ordinance, which went into effect last year, has already protected thousands of renters from skyrocketing rents and possible eviction while guaranteeing landlords a fair right of return. Today’s motion makes those protections permanent.
Related: LA County Temporary Rent Control Measure Now In Effect
The Board also directed DCBA, in partnership with several County offices and departments, to establish the first phase of an eviction defense and prevention program. This will include legal representation for eligible tenants, eviction help centers in courthouses, and short-term rental assistance.
“Economic issues are the number one reason people become homeless. Many people are faced with astronomical rent increases and can’t afford lawyers to fight them. The rent stabilization motion, as well as the eviction defense motion, will help County residents maintain affordable homes in stable communities,” said Kuehl.
Other board members echoed Kuehl’s statements, emphasizing that they wished to protect both tenants as well as the investments of landlords.
“There is a clear and unmistakable link between our unaffordable housing market and homeless crisis,” said 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, co-author of the eviction defense motion. “It is our moral imperative to help stabilize the housing market and protect low-income renters where an unlawful eviction makes them vulnerable to losing the roof over their head. This is simply a matter of justice.”
For more information about Los Angeles County’s interim rent stabilization ordinance, visit rent.lacounty.gov.
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I would love to see many more actions to protect people from being priced out of their homes. This is a good step! Although I do not respect the way California has more protection for renters than owners, at the same time investment opportunities are driving prices up and putting tenants on the street.
We need more protection for mobile home owners who rent a space in a park. There is a national trend for investors to purchase the parks and raise the rent. What little equity the mobile home owner has declines as the rent goes up. Some people are priced right out of their homes!
We need protection for lower and somewhat middle income people by having city and county protection such as this. Thank you Board of Supervisors, for recognizing this and taking action. I’m looking forward to hearing that even more is being done, by the county and the city of Santa Clarita!
I thought cali already voted on this? prop 10? interesting that was not mentioned…
How about the rise in Homes. Making it hard for anyone to purchase a house.