Rent Control in City of L.A. (Los Angeles, Beverly Hills: sales, apartment complexes)

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by vrun

I've been renting a house for the last three years and have just received a rent increase letter from the owner. I'm the original renter, on a Month to Month agreement, and I sublet two rooms to roommates. The rent increase is for 10% and shall be effective in 2 1/2 months. I think the 10% is high for a single increase, however, she hasn't increased my rent in the 3 yrs that I've been here so I feel that it's fair.

My question is: How do I pass this increase on to a roommate who has been here for almost a year? Can I only increase by 4% or 5%, or can I pass on the full 10%?

She is approaching her 1 year anniversary in Sept.

Any info would be helpful. Thank You.

If you pass on the full 10% expect her to want to move out, unless paying that amount is not a problem for her to do. The 10% increase is YOUR problem not hers.

[rentsmart]

So rent control was 3% until 2005. In 2006 it went up to 4%. Now in 2007, its already at 5%. And my question is, for some people, isn't it actually at 6%? Can landlords still add another percent if they pay for gas? And then can they still add $2.96 on top of that (for the SCEP fee)? Making the rent increase 6% plus $2.96?

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by rentsmart

So rent control was 3% until 2005. In 2006 it went up to 4%. Now in 2007, its already at 5%. And my question is, for some people, isn't it actually at 6%? Can landlords still add another percent if they pay for gas? And then can they still add $2.96 on top of that (for the SCEP fee)? Making the rent increase 6% plus $2.96?

They don't pay for gas!! Who told you that? You pay your own gas and electric.

[rentsmart]

I know from experience that if a landlord wishes, he can pay the gas bill, and by doing so, he can add another percent. This was true in the past and is probably still true now, but I just wanted to see if any renters have experienced the 6% plus $2.96 increase this year.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by rentsmart

I know from experience that if a landlord wishes, he can pay the gas bill, and by doing so, he can add another percent. This was true in the past and is probably still true now, but I just wanted to see if any renters have experienced the 6% plus $2.96 increase this year.

Oh. Well, that's news to me. I've never had a landlord pay utilities, unless you're living in the projects.

[rentsmart]

To be clear, I'm talking specifically about in the city of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rent Control. (Not Glendale, Santa Monica, or some nearby city.)

[rentsmart]

Not necessarily in the projects. Just a cheap, penny-pinching greedlord who'd use any excuse to raise rent an extra percent.

[SandyCo]

Rentsmart, I have heard of the addition onto the rent if the landlord pays for utilities, but I don't know the specifics. There was one woman renting here who was paying extra for water, and water is always included!!! The rest of us tenants dug out our leases, and showed her that we weren't paying extra for water at all. I'm also not sure about the $2.96 charge, sorry...

My landlord is so greedy that he converted a large, roomy single to a "one-bedroom"! As a single it was great; as a one-bedroom it's claustrophobic! But now he's charging one-bedroom rates for that apartment. This is the same man who refuses to replace our washers and dryers (but maybe that's a good thing, since it has been $1.00 to wash and $.75 to dry for the entire ten years I've lived here).

[babsbnny]

I live in the city of Los Angeles, and my rent went from $1105 to $1180 on June 1st. They provide water, but that's the only utility, and as of June 1, 2007 the rent control rate was still 4%, right? So by my accounting, the maximum increase should have been 5%, or $55, which would have made my rent $1160. Am I crazy or are they? When I called, they tried to tell me that the building is not rent controlled. What the hell? ALSO, they are trying to make all of the tenants pay $150/mo. for our storage units, which used to be free. Although the storage unit is not mentioned in my lease (I just noticed...bummer), I did have a verbal agreement that it was included when I signed my lease 4 years ago. Help!

[mommabear2]

Originally Posted by rentsmart

So rent control was 3% until 2005. In 2006 it went up to 4%. Now in 2007, its already at 5%. And my question is, for some people, isn't it actually at 6%? Can landlords still add another percent if they pay for gas? And then can they still add $2.96 on top of that (for the SCEP fee)? Making the rent increase 6% plus $2.96?

If the landlord pays the utilities he/she can add an extra 1% for each utility - so if they only pay for elect. then it's 1%. If they pay for gas and elect. then it's 2% in addition to the 5% increase. Usually this is done if the meters are not seperated... So if the tenant decides he wants to have 5 window a/c units and runs them 24/7 - the landlord is most likely going to nick 'em the full amount passing the cost onto the tenant.