Rent increase (Los Angeles: apartment, rental market, condos)

[limonx1lady]

Question, my apartment was purchased last year, new landlord raised rent for $500 a month to $800 a month. I was under the impression as a new owner he could raise the rent to whatever. I know I have the option to go or stay. I just discovered the property is in a "rent control area," los angeles. I was informed I could either talk to him about the overcharge or just file with the housing authority. However, it has been a year. Should I file for overpayment or what. Ambivalent about the procedure.????

[katenik]

rent control does not apply to all properties in LA. is the building old enough to come under LARSO jurisdiction? if it was placed on the rental market after 1978, rent control doesn't apply, and the owner can raise the rent to "whatever" as long as you are given legally sufficient notice. search the forum for rent control threads and you will find many posts that detail the requirements for LARSO protection. for some reason, i'm blanking on the others right now.

[SandyCo]

Actually, rent control applies only to the City of Los Angeles.

City of Los Angeles Map - Detailed View

Within the city, only multi-family dwellings built before 1978 are under rent control. It doesn't matter when the owner bought it. Condos are exempt from rent control.

If your building is actually exempt from rent control, then yes, the landlord can raise the rent - but California law states that they have to give you 60 days notice if it's going up more than 10% (which in your case would be more than $50; your rent is increasing 37.5%!). Here is a good website that talks about rent control in general, and has some good links to L.A. rent control in particular.

California Tenant Law - Non-profit legal advice for California renters' rights

[scfinla]

My goodness... by all means first contact your landlord about the rent increase. You should also verify that your apartment is in a rent control area and meets the qualifications to be under rent control. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, I would certainly contact the Rent Statbilzation Board or Fair Housing Department of LA.