Los Angeles County Rent Stabilization Ordinance Study
County of Los Angeles
HR&A worked with Los Angeles County to review and update the rent increase formula under its Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections Ordinance following pandemic-era market disruptions. Our comprehensive analysis and stakeholder engagement produced six policy options, with the Board of Supervisors adopting one of our recommendations in June 2024.
Post-pandemic inflation and market shifts created urgent questions about how Los Angeles County should set allowable rent increases for regulated housing. The existing formula needed review to balance tenant protections with property owner concerns in a dramatically changed economic environment. Working closely with County staff, HR&A conducted a two-phase analysis that began with reviewing rent stabilization ordinances across California, focusing on pandemic-era changes and emerging best practices. We analyzed demographic and housing trends for renters in unincorporated LA County, summarized the housing stock regulated under the ordinance, and examined available data on operating expense trends for housing providers.
Our approach emphasized direct stakeholder engagement, gathering insights from tenants, property owners, and advocacy organizations about the real-world challenges they face and how rent stabilization policies impact those experiences. This comprehensive research enabled us to develop six distinct formula options for calculating allowable rent increases, each with clear guidance on potential impacts for tenants, housing providers, and administrators. The County Board of Supervisors used our analysis to make an informed policy decision, ultimately moving forward with one of our recommended options. This work provides the County with an evidence-based framework for balancing housing affordability and stability in an evolving market environment.
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