Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was joined by Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez and renter’s rights advocates to sign the protections into law. (photo courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass’ office)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed new tenant protections into law on Dec. 23 in the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Passed by the Los Angeles City Council in December, Bass approved the first update to the ordinance in nearly 40 years.

“No parent should have to choose between buying groceries or paying the rent, or live in fear of eviction because they have welcomed a child into their family,” Bass said. “In partnership with the City Council, we are enacting new tenant protections and capping the rent for apartment units protected under the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. This new law protects renters while also streamlining processes and resources for housing providers so that more Angelenos can not only make the rent but live full and stable lives.”

Bass was joined for the signing by City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, 13th District, and tenant rights leaders at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, an economic justice organization that has served tens of thousands of Angelenos.

“Being able to afford rent is not a luxury – it’s a basic necessity. For the first time in 40 years, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure more Angelenos can afford to live where they work and continue to thrive in the communities they serve,” Soto-Martínez said. “It will support families and make sure people are not priced out of L.A.”

Bass’ action continues efforts to make Los Angeles more affordable, beginning with reducing the high cost of housing. The Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which covers approximately 74% of rental units in Los Angeles, addresses the current cost-of-living crisis that many residents are facing.

The ordinance limits rent increases, with a floor of 1% and a ceiling of 4%; prohibits rent increases for additional tenants such as babies or elderly family members under the care of the primary residents; removes outdated utility increases; and explores ways to provide more resources to address deferred maintenance and other challenges faced by small housing providers.

Bass noted that the most extreme consequence of unaffordability is homelessness. On the mayor’s first day in office, she declared a state of emergency on homelessness that allowed the city to accelerate the production of permanent affordable housing and rapidly expand interim housing by cutting through years of red tape. For information, visit mayor.lacity.gov.