Getting a notice from your landlord informing you of a rent increase can be a stressful situation. When we rent a house, we do so according to a fixed budget, and there are times when the increase can exceed it.
California is one of the states in the country with the highest rental costs, making it one of the most expensive places to live. Just under half of the state’s residents are renters, and rents have risen sharply in the last twenty years.
This situation has led lawmakers to propose a series of new rent control and eviction protection bills across the state. One of these bills, AB 1482, or the California Tenant Protection Act, was passed in 2019 and went into effect on January 1, 2020.
How does rent control work in California?
AB 1482 is an existing law in the state that has two main functions: it limits rent increases and eliminates the right of landlords to evict tenants without just cause.
This law limits the allowable annual rent increase to 5%, plus another 5% for the local cost of living adjustment, which would give us a maximum increase of 10% per year.
The percentage increase is often tied to the area’s annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the price of basic items like gasoline, food, and utilities, which also typically see increases each year.
What to do if my landlord wants to increase my rent?
As we mentioned before, your landlord cannot increase the rent overnight, nor can they increase it by more than 10%. If your landlord is not meeting these two conditions, it is important that you contact an attorney.
A lawyer specialized in this area will be able to advise you and develop a legal defense for your case. If you or a loved one is in such a situation, contact us today. We will help you to uphold your rights.