ONE BIG THING: CAPPING RENT INCREASES
What Happened?
The Housing & Homelessness Committee just approved major updates to LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance — the first in 40 years. The proposal would:
- Cap annual rent increases at 3%, down from the current 8%.
- Lower the floor for rent increases from 3% to 0%, so rents can only rise with inflation instead of guaranteed rent hikes each year.
- Close the utility loophole that lets landlords increase rents an extra 1–2% if they covered gas or electricity.
- End the “move-in” loophole, which lets landlords raise rent by up to 10% if a tenant’s child or dependent moved in — even in cases where someone was welcoming a new baby or caring for an aging parent.
A clear takeaway from the committee hearing was that all councilmembers agreed our current system is broken. Even when inflation is zero, landlords can still raise rents by 3%, meaning rent hikes have outpaced inflation in 23 of the past 30 years.
Why it Matters
Even a small rent increase can have huge consequences for tenants in Los Angeles.
Roughly 44% of the city’s residents live in rent-stabilized housing. Of those, an estimated 238,000 Angelenos pay more than 90% of their income on rent — most earning under $20,000 a year.
For someone making about $1,700 a month, even a 1% rent increase could cut their post-rent income by 10% or more, leaving no money for essentials like groceries, medicine, and childcare.
Recently, 25 homeless service and housing providers wrote to City Council saying this proposal is “one of the most impactful, non-monetary investments the City could make to reduce inflow into homelessness.”
What’s Next
The full vote at City Council will be THIS WEDNESDAY at 10 am — capping off years of organizing by housing advocates and our office to make the city more affordable for working Angelenos.
Come to City Hall to give public comment and make your voice heard, and follow @keeplahoused for other ways to get involved.
Two More Quick Hits
- Armed Agents Take Toddler in LA Raid
This week, we saw incredibly disturbing footage of ICE agents with guns detaining an American citizen in Cypress Park near the border of our district, and then driving away in the man’s car with his toddler still in the backseat.
While the young child has thankfully been reunited with her family, this horrific abuse of power highlights the federal government’s total disregard for families and the rule of law.
Read more from The New York Times and view the video
- Volunteer for our Turkey Giveaway!
We’re teaming up with our compañera Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez to distribute thousands of turkeys to residents in our districts facing food insecurity.
This season, we’re more than ever before reminded that community is everything. We’re looking for volunteers on November 21 to come together and make sure every family can enjoy warmth, love, and a holiday meal.
We’ll share more information about picking up turkeys soon!
Click here to sign up to volunteer on November 21!
November at The LA Animal Service Shelters
With shorter days and the holidays around the corner, it’s the perfect time to make sure your pet’s microchip info is up to date!
If you’ve recently moved or changed your phone number, check your pet’s microchip today. And if your furry friend doesn’t have one yet, LA Animal Services is offering microchips for just $15. Click here to find an LA animal service center near you!