Appeals Court Partially Sides With LA Landlords In Challenge To Tenant Protection Laws
An appellate court decision has handed the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles a victory on one count but a loss on another, The Real Deal reported.
AAGLA had sued the city of Los Angeles over a regulation that called for landlords to give relocation assistance to renters who, following legal rent increases, could no longer afford their non-rent-stabilized units.
The California Court of Appeal for the 2nd District overturned this, finding it in conflict with the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, according to a press release from AAGLA. Costa-Hawkins says owners of units not subject to the city's rent-stabilization rules can raise their rents to market levels.
AAGLA also sued over an ordinance that placed a threshold on the amount owed in rent before landlords could begin to evict tenants. The financial threshold was equal to one month’s fair market rent according to levels set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The court upheld the lower court decision on this, but AAGLA said in a statement that it is evaluating further appeals.
"We are pleased with the Court’s decision, although just a partial victory," AAGLA Board of Directors President Matthew Williams said in a statement.
"Providing housing in such an extreme regulatory environment has exposed property owners to significant legal risks, increased housing costs, and made the housing business far too complicated for most small operators."
