‘Consumer alert’: AG Bonta lists counties’ limits on rent increases

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday alerted consumers about a new law that limits the amount of annual rent increases.

The alert, titled “Know Your Rights as a California Tenant,” outlines for each county the maximum annual rent increase that the law allows. Under the Tenant Protection Act, or TPA, which took effect Aug. 1, most landlords cannot levy an annual rent hike more than 10% or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, whichever is lower.

Another consumer alert summarized local rent control or rent stabilization laws throughout the state. If state residents live in a municipality with more robust rent protections than the TPA, the local law applies. 

“At a time when rent prices continue to be a top concern for Californians, my office is publishing two consumer alerts to remind both landlords and tenants of the allowable rent-increase caps under the Tenant Protection Act and local law,” Bonta said in a statement. “The bottom line is this: The Tenant Protection Act sets a floor — not a ceiling. If your city or county has stronger rent-increase protections than those provided by the Tenant Protection Act, that city or county’s protections take precedence.”

The limit on rent increases will stay in effect through July 31, when a new rent hike limit supersedes the current cap.

The rent-hike limits apply to most rental housing in the state that is older than 15 years old, including corporation-owned condominiums and single-family homes, mobile homes rented from mobile home park management and Section 8 housing, according to the statement from Bonta’s office. 

The cost-of-living change is assessed using April data from the Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco and San Diego areas, officials said. For all other counties, the change in the cost of living is measured with April data from the California Consumer Price Index. March data is used if no information for April is available.

Local rent control laws 

Local laws vary widely with different rent-increase caps and have different methods for determining the amount of the limits that often are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Bonta’s office has published a chart displaying local rent stabilization laws, how they calculate their rent-hike limits along with several key exemptions. 

Tenants facing eviction or who believe their landlord has violated their rights “should seek legal help immediately,” officials said, offering these legal resources:

• To find a legal aid office, visit lawhelpca.org and click on the “Find Legal Help” tab;
• the California State Bar webpage has information on how to find a local certified lawyer referral service; and
• the California Courts webpage also has information for tenants facing evictions. 

Consumer alerts are available near the end of the California Department of Justice webpage on landlord-tenant Issues.

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