New Landlord and Rent Increase (Los Angeles, Merced: apartment, renters, evictions)

[lightandfluffy]

Hello,

My building has just been sold and the new landlord asked us to sign a new lease, on which he increased the rent by 5%. My building is rent controlled and the former landlord hasn't increase the rent before selling.
Can the new landlord legally do that or does he have to wait for the next year to start increasing?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Ultrarunner]

You need to ask the governing Rent Board that question...

Yes, sometimes Landlords are allowed to "Bank" allowed rent increases and apply them at a later date.

Irregardless, the terms of your current lease prevail for the lease period. You don't have this protection if you are on a month-to-month rental.

[JackSparrow]

Rent Increases: Basic Information for Tenants: Legal Guide LT-2 - California Department Of Consumer Affairs

[lightandfluffy]

Thank you for your quick reply.
Until now, I was on a month to month rental, without a lease.
Should I/Do I have to sign this new lease, whatever the terms are?

[JackSparrow]

Just Google California renters rights, or CA landlord laws....

[johnrex62]

Originally Posted by lightandfluffy

Thank you for your quick reply.
Until now, I was on a month to month rental, without a lease.
Should I/Do I have to sign this new lease, whatever the terms are?

You can always try to negotiate. How successful you will be will depend on the strength of your position. If the new landlord desires a longer term lease and you do not, they why shouldn't they have the right to evict you and put in someone that will sign it. After all, it is now their property. You always have the choice to agree to their terms, attempt to negotiate better terms, or vacate. They always have the choice to negotiate or not.

If you are on a month to month and do not wish to sign a new lease, in most jurisdictions the landlord must give you one lease period (one month) to vacate if they do not wish to permit you to continue on the month to month.

[SandyCo]

If it's rent control under the City of L.A., and they want to evict you, I think they have to give you at least 30 days notice, and they have to show just cause. They can't just toss you out on your ear. Too many unscrupulous landlords were doing just that, so the laws were toughened up quite a bit.

This site might help: LA Rent Control Made Simple

FYI, as of July 1st, the annual rent increase allowed is indeed 5% (up from 4% last year). If your rent hasn't increased in the past year, they can definitely increase it by the 5% with only 30 days written notice.

[lightandfluffy]

Thanks a lot guy, it helped me!

[soodi18]

First I want to say there is ALOT of good info on this site!
Heres my dilemma,my landlord, King David as we called him, sent me a ledger dating back 11 years, when I started my tenancy. He is charging about three hundred dollars worth of small charges for such things as a screen door that was fixed in 1998 and I paid for it, then deducted from my rent as per my now gone with the wind manager.
His Royalness will not discuss this with me, just yelled at me and said, that he would serve me a '3 day' if I did not pay.
The Los Angeles Housing Dept is perplexed , as they only deal with evictions,apparently.
So if he does evict me, they may take a look.
I even emailed Mercedes Marquez, te head of the LAHD, and she and her staff are..sorry to say...a bunch of worth less city employees.
Does anyone know about a statue of Limiations for landlord charges.? Also I know he wants me out because he can rent my unit for about 600.00 more pr month.
I think it is disgusting that the rent increases are up to 5 and 6 percent, plus we can be charged for 50.00 per month for' capitol improvement', and now the Apartment Owners Ass. is starting a petition to END Rent Stabilization.
I think tey have a good chance with our elected officials.