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."

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Los Angeles Newsletters
Related Stories

Hof Wonen Acquires 251 Social Rental Houses In New Mixed-Use Project In The Hague

Capital Flooded Into Bay Area Apartments. Then Treasury Yields Spiked

The New Challenge For Apartment Managers: Proving Listing Photos Are Real

Epicenter Landcorp Buys Culver City Flex Industrial Building For $11M

How Pacific Northwest Multifamily Owners Are Using Sustainability To Strengthen Asset Performance

Hudson Pacific's Historic San Francisco Conversion Project Gets Approval

Hollywood's Yamashiro Complex Gets $25M Refinance: The Los Angeles Deal Sheet

FIRST DRAFT LIVE: Why Sun Belt Multifamily Giant Cortland Is Moving Its Money North

NYC's All-Electric Building Push Created A Heat-Billing Puzzle. The LFG Split Utility Panel Could Solve It

'Illegitimate' Or 'Leveling The Playing Field'?: Why Habitability Cases Are Surging In Eviction Court

Oliver Carr Jr.'s Firm Sells Alexandria Project To His Son's Company

COPA Passes City Council, Heads To Mamdani's Desk