Q and A with Prop West: Rent Control

Q) I own a building under rent control in Los Angeles. My tenant's one year lease is expiring soon and I have asked him to sign a new one year lease. The tenant is refusing to because he wants to stay on a month to month agreement. What are my options?

A) The Rent Stabilization Ordinance for Los Angeles would consider this to be grounds for eviction. Present your tenant with a similar one year lease to sign prior to the existing lease expiring and if he does not sign it do not accept any rent. Serve him with a 3-day notice to sign the lease or quit and if he doesn't you can begin eviction off the 3-day notice.

Q and A with Prop West

Q) One of our tenants has his friends over quite often and we are afraid that they will cause problems. Can we legally prevent our tenant from inviting these people onto our property?

A) When you leased the unit, you gave up the right to posession. Your tenants are allowed to associate with whomever they choose and are allowed to invite these individuals into their unit. The only issue would be if these guests disturbed the other tenants or vandalized the property. That could be grounds for eviction or, if your property is not under rent control, for giving a 30-day notice vacate.

Q and A with Prop West: Rent Control

Q) I own a single family home in Los Angeles. The tenant is currently on a month to month agreement. I can not afford to keep the property anymore so I will be selling it. Will I have to pay the tenant relocation fees?

A) Single-family residences are not subject to rent control so you are not obligated to pay any relocation fees. If the tenants have been there less than 1 year you will need to serve them a 30-day notice and if they have been there over 1 year you will need to serve them a 60-day notice to vacate.

Q and A with Prop West

Q) My tenant has not paid their rent so I served them with a 3-day notice. The tenants made a partial payment during the 3 day period. Can I still start eviction on my tenants since they have still not paid the full rent amount?

A) If you accepted a partial payment at any time during or after the 3-day period you must send the tenants another 3-day notice with the correct amount that they still owe. Then if the tenants don't pay you can start eviction.

Q and A with Prop West: Rent Control

Q) I recently raised the rent at my rent controlled building the allotted 4%. I just found out that one of my tenants has brought in a roommate. I know that the city allows an additional 10% rent increase for a roommate but do I have to wait another year to raise these tenants?

A) No, you do not have to wait to raise the rent.

Q and A with Prop West

Q) One of my tenants, in a rent controlled building, left some candles lit and it set off the smoke detectors causing the fire department to respond. They broke down the door to let the smoke out. Can I evict the tenants? Can I make the tenants responsible for replacing the damaged unit door?

A) Since this was only a one time incident of negligence by the tenant it is not considered a nuisance and is not grounds for an eviction. The tenant is responsible for the damage caused by the for department.

Q and A with Prop West

Q) Are there any special laws concerning the remediation of rental units formally occupied by smokers? Is there a special paint I need to use or do the walls need to be scrubbed?

A) There are no laws requiring a landlord and/or owner to do any special type of cleaning for units that were vacated by smokers.