LA County Board of Supervisors to Consider Adoption of Amendments to their RSO
Since April 1, 2020, the County has had a permanent Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) in effect applicable to the County’s unincorporated areas that includes annual limitations on rent increases based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, “Just Cause” eviction requirements, relocation fees, regulation of buy-out agreements, a process to apply for rent adjustments and capital improvement pass-through cost recovery, and anti-harassment provisions.
Next Tuesday, at the July 27th Los Angeles Board of Supervisors meeting, the Supervisors will be considering adoption of an ordinance containing 56 amendments to the RSO, agenda items 40 and 55. While some of the proposed amendments are technical in nature or for the purpose of clarifying ordinance language, there are numerous amendments that raise concern and to which the Association will present arguments against.
Among the proposed amendments of concern:
- Prohibiting rent or deposit increases based on additional occupants.
- Removing as a factor in considering an application for a rent adjustment, changes in the number of renters occupying the unit.
- Providing renters with a right of first return if an owner-occupancy ends within 3 years after the final date of tenancy.
- Buy-out agreement: requiring a housing provider to provide the written disclosure and buy-out agreement in the primary language of the renter.
- A broad-based private right of action to “any tenant, or other person or entity acting on behalf of the Tenant who will fairly and adequately represent the Tenant’s interest.”
To further review the RSO amendments being contemplated, please click on the button below:
The Association will strongly advocate for our members interest and provide updates.
Annual RSO Rent Registration Waiver Extension
During the same meeting, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors will also be considering a motion extending the waiver for payment of the RSO annual registration fee through June 30, 2022, for owners who register in the County’s Rental Registry System on or before January 1, 2022, agenda item 33. Previously, on February 23, 2021, the Board approved a waiver of the 2021 fee for owners who register their dwelling units on or before September 30, 2021.
As further background, the County’s Rental Registry System launches on July 30, 2021. The annual rental registration fee is $90 per unit for rental units subject to both the County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Just-Cause provisions (“Fully Covered Units”) and $30 per unit for rental units subject to the County’s Just-Cause provisions but exempt from the County’s RSO (“Just-Cause Only Units”) in the County’s unincorporated areas.
To review the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors July 27th meeting agenda and the items mentioned, please click on the button below: