LA Rent Stabilization. In the past 3 years some rent stabilized buildings have began charging new tenants a monthly fee (rental)

[longsr]

Question regarding LA Rent Stabilization. In the past 3 years some rent stabilized buildings have began charging new tenants a monthly fee for water, sewage and in some cases garbage. This fee is based on a calculation of units, number of occupants and or square footage and is administered by a third party vendor. Tenants in the buildings prior to the implementation of this new fee are not charged. Is this legal? It seems like a run around rent stabilization.

[BennyPhoenix]

These things should be included in the rent. If an apt. has an individual water meter then each tenant can be charged for water.
Call LAHD if you want to know the details.

[longsr]

Thanks benny Phoenix for responding. I will contact LAHD. This is a gray area. The building only has separate apt meters for electricity, not water, sewage and garbage. It seems redundant they would charge for those because according to LA city's municipal code, they get to increase their annual percentage more...
[SIZE=3]".....If the landlord pays all the costs of electricity and/or gas services for a rental unit then the maximum rent or maximum adjusted rent may be increased an additional one percent (1%) for each such service paid by the landlord, not to exceed a total of two percent (2%)....." [/SIZE]

[BennyPhoenix]

Separately metered items should be paid individually by each tenant.
Other items such as trash pickup should be included as part of the rent. Separating it from the rent doesn't make since a owner can just say this is the rent and this is what it includes.