Problem with your landlord?

Have a problem with your LA landlord? Start here.

Whether you rent in the City of Los Angeles, an unincorporated pocket of LA County, or anywhere else in California, your protections depend on which government makes the rules for your address. A rent increase that's legal in one neighborhood can be illegal a block away, because the City of Los Angeles, LA County, and the State of California each set their own limits. This hub points you to the right, plain-English guide for whatever you're dealing with — and to free tools that help you push back with facts instead of guesswork.

CertRent is a free educational renter-verification platform. We're not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice — but we'll get you to the official rules and the local resources fast.

"My rent is going up" — is the increase even legal?

Start by figuring out what law covers your unit. Older City of LA apartments are usually under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), whose allowable increase is a percentage published each year by the LA Housing Department. Unincorporated LA County units may fall under the County's Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections Ordinance (RSTPO), capped at 1.919% plus banded add-ons for the 2026-27 year. Most everything else statewide is under AB 1482, which caps increases at 8.0% in the LA area through July 31, 2026 and 8.7% beginning August 1, 2026.

• Is my apartment rent controlled? — find out which system covers you.
• How much can my landlord raise the rent? — the current caps and notice rules (30 days for increases of 10% or less, 90 days for more, under Civil Code §827).

"I got a notice" — eviction and just cause

A notice is not an eviction, and in most of LA a landlord needs a legally valid reason to make you leave. City of LA tenants are covered by the Just Cause Ordinance after 6 months, and AB 1482 requires just cause statewide after 12 months. If a landlord is clearing a building off the rental market entirely, that's the Ellis Act — with its own strict process and relocation money.

• I got an eviction notice — what now?
• Just cause eviction rules in LA
• Ellis Act evictions and relocation assistance you may be owed.

"My place needs repairs" — habitability

California law guarantees a livable home under Civil Code §1941, and §1942 gives you options when a landlord won't fix serious problems. In the City of LA, chronically neglected buildings can be placed in the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP), letting tenants pay reduced rent into escrow until repairs are made.

• Repairs, habitability, and REAP — how to document problems and demand fixes.

"My deposit or application fees" — money the landlord holds

Since AB 12, most California security deposits are capped at one month's rent, and your landlord must return it (with an itemized statement and, under AB 2801, photos) within 21 days of move-out. On the front end, screening fees are capped by Civil Code §1950.6 and adjusted for inflation — currently about $65.86 per application.

• Security deposit rules and getting yours back
• Application fees and reusable screening reports — stop paying to prove the same facts over and over.

"Will they even accept me?" — income, vouchers, and no SSN

It's illegal in California to refuse you because of your lawful source of income, including a Section 8 voucher (SB 329 and SB 267). You also don't need a Social Security number to rent — the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act (AB 291) bars landlords from using immigration status against you, and you can qualify with an ITIN and your own bank records.

• Renting with a Section 8 voucher
• Renting with no SSN or an ITIN

Get ahead of the problem — build a verified profile

The strongest position is being able to prove you're a reliable renter before you ever need to argue. CertRent turns your real bank-verified income and on-time rent history into one clean profile you can share with any LA landlord — free, no credit score or SSN required.

Build your free CertRent profile • Find out who really owns your building

This hub is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney, the LA Housing Department, or the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.