Los Angeles City Council Adopts Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance

Following several years of discussions and a multitude of last-minute amendments, on June 23rd, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance. The ordinance is now pending the Mayor’s signature and publication. Generally, an ordinance becomes effective approximately 30 days after publication.

Throughout the process, the Association strongly advocated for our members interests and were successful in preventing definitional changes that would have had disastrous consequences for rental housing providers who are not engaging in harassment by setting the standard so low placing a rental housing provider at risk of being sued for harassment for “knowing and willful” action, whether for a legitimate purpose or not and regardless of whether it negatively affected the specific renter. We also successfully advocated for the inclusion of a notice and opportunity to cure provision, and that such notice be in writing. As a result, prior to the commencement of a civil action against a rental housing provider for alleged violations related to necessary repairs and maintenance, the renter is required to provide written notice to the housing provider of the alleged violation and a reasonable time period to address the issue.

While the final ordinance was adopted without some of the most detrimental proposed amendments, unfortunately some problematic provisions remained. Moreover, we had continuously fought for a more equitable anti-harassment ordinance that would provide legal remedies to both renters and rental housing providers. Harassment is not isolated to just renters as rental housing providers are also subjected to harassment by their renters. The Association is committed to representing our members and the multifamily rental industry in the advancement of balanced legislative action.

We encourage you to review the ordinance for full details.