West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Ordinance

The Division of Rent Stabilization and Housing develops housing programs and policies for the City in order to promote a strong and vibrant residential community, with particular emphasis on the quality of residential life.

WHAT PROPERTIES ARE COVERED BY RENT STABILIZATION?

What's Covered?

• Properties with more than one dwelling unit that received their original Certificate of Occupancy before July 1, 1979;

• Properties with only one dwelling unit on the whole property whose original Certificate of Occupancy was issued before July 1, 1979, and whose current tenants moved in before January 1, 1996.

• Most properties in West Hollywood fall into these categories and are covered by the Rent Stabilization, Eviction, and Harassment section of the Ordinance.

What's Permanently Exempt?

• Institutional facilities

• Non-profit housing

• Some units in hotels or motels.

If you are not sure about the status of a rental property, you may call the Division at (323) 848-6450 and ask an Information Coordinator.

VACANCY INCREASES AND RE-REGISTRATION - De-Control

For most units whose tenants have moved-in during 1999 or later, if a rent-stabilized unit becomes vacant, the landlord sets the rent at whatever amount prospective tenants are willing to pay. The rent initially charged the new tenant by the landlord establishes the Maximum Allowable Rent for the tenancy. The housing services supplied by the landlord as a basis for the MAR are also established at this time by what is in the lease or what is provided in the unit at or after move-in.

The rent is not decontrolled during vacancy and is based on the last tenant's Maximum Allowable Rent if the landlord or their agent has:

• terminated the last tenancy without the tenant giving cause to do so (such terminations would include owner-occupancy, property's removal from rental market, governmental orders to vacate for dangerous conditions, etc.);

• left violations uncorrected when the new tenant moved in and 60 days or more after the landlord was cited in an inspection report by an appropriate governmental agency which has determined that the rental unit contains serious health, safety, fire, or building code violations, as defined by Section 17920.3 of the Health and Safety Code;

• behaved in a manner which constituted harassment prohibited by law, constructive eviction, or a breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment of the property and resulted in the tenant moving out involuntarily;

• did not have a bona fide landlord-tenant relationship with the last tenant or that tenant occupied the unit for less than six months for the purpose of vacating the property to establish eligibility for a decontrolled rent during vacancy.

The rent is also not decontrolled during vacancy if the last tenant left because the landlord cancelled a Section 8 contract without cause or changed its conditions so that the tenant had to move out involuntarily. In this case, the Maximum Allowable Rent for any tenancy beginning during the next 3 years will be based on the last rent paid under the Section 8 contract.

Generally, the MAR may only be increased by the Annual General Adjustment during a tenancy and all other sections of the Ordinance, including fees, maintenance standards and eviction sections, also apply once a tenant moves in. If a service is provided or left in the unit by the landlord, the Ordinance's maintenance requirements will apply to it even if the landlord writes a waiver of these requirements into the lease.

Contact

Phone: (323) 848-6450

In Person or Mail: 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard on the First Floor, West Hollywood, California 90069

Email: rsd@weho.org

The office is open Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm, Friday, 8am to 4:30pm (all Fridays, we are here on Friday Lite)

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