AB 1482
The statewide rent cap (AB 1482).
AB 1482 is the California Tenant Protection Act. It sets a statewide ceiling on rent increases and a statewide set of reasons a landlord must have to evict, for homes that are not already covered by a stronger local law.
If your city has its own rent control, that local law usually applies first. AB 1482 is the floor that covers much of the rest of the state.
This page explains the law in plain English to help you get oriented. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not make us your lawyers. Laws and yearly figures change. For what applies to your situation, give us a call.
How much rent can go up
Under AB 1482 your rent can go up by no more than 5 percent plus the local rate of inflation in a 12-month period, and never more than 10 percent total, whichever is lower. The inflation figure changes each year and by region.
A landlord cannot get around the cap by raising the rent twice in one year. The total of all raises in any 12-month stretch is what counts.
Which homes are exempt
Newer buildings are exempt for their first 15 years, on a rolling basis. Many single-family homes and condos are exempt, but only if the owner is not a corporation or a real estate investment trust, and only if the owner gave you a specific written notice of the exemption.
If you never received that exemption notice, the home may still be covered. The exemption is not automatic.
Just cause to end a tenancy
Once you have lived in a covered home for 12 months, the landlord needs a just cause to end your tenancy. Some reasons are about something the tenant did. Others, like an owner moving in or taking the unit off the market, are no-fault.
For most no-fault reasons the landlord must pay relocation help equal to one month of rent. A notice that skips that step can be challenged.
The laws themselves
Where to file a complaint
- LA County Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)
Rent and eviction questions for LA County tenants
- LA Housing Department
City of Los Angeles tenants
If you are not sure how any of this applies to you, that is exactly what a free call is for. We will tell you where you stand.
Give us a call(310) 265-5000