There are two types of people in LA: those whose apartments are rent controlled and those who are perpetually jealous of the first group (because let's be honest—no one in this city—aside from the rich and famous—owns property, right?). But life in Rent Control Land isn't always sunshine and butterflies either. In fact, the city has received thousands of complaints from tenants claiming that their landlords raised their rent illegally. To help address the complaints, city officials want to create an additional level of transparency in the renting process. Here are a few things you should know:
1. Rent control, explained: Rent control refers to a collection of laws passed by the LA City Council in 1978 to keep landlords from evicting tenants and exorbitantly raising rent.
2. Number of rental units that have rent control: The laws apply to about 620,000 units around the city.
3. The standard legal rate: Currently, the most landlords are allowed to raise rent in rent-controlled units is 3 percent.
4. Getting around the law: Since the landlords don't have to report how much they're charging, the city just relies on complaints from tenants in order to monitor whether landlords are in fact abiding the law.
5. How to file a complaint: Follow this link.
6. The new proposal: City officials want to start a public registry where landlords would have to report how much they are charging their tenants each year. You, the renter, would be able to log in, type in your address and see how much your unit costs now compared to past rates.
7. Will it work?: It's hard to tell. The city would still rely on tenants to report injustice.
8. Other examples of similar systems: Santa Monica and West Hollywood both have public data that is recorded when a new tenant moves in. The new proposal for LA would be recorded annually.
