Who Is Exempt From California Rent Control? New buildings which are not yet 15 years old. Owner-occupied buildings with less than three or four units (the number depends on the local regulations) Detached accessory dwelling units, also known as 'granny flats' or 'mother-in-law units' Government-subsidized housing units.
The Tenant Protection Act (TPA), effective as of January 1, 2020, creates statewide protections against excessive rent increases and requires “just cause” to evict tenants in residential rental properties.
California Landlord Tenant Rental Laws & Rights for 2024 Key rights include limits on rent increases through state and local rent control ordinances, just cause eviction requirements, and the right to a habitable living space.
In California, rent control laws are governed primarily by the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), which caps annual rent increases for certain properties at 5% plus the local inflation rate, up to a maximum of 10%.
At a glance: What a landlord cannot do in California in 2024 Landlords can't raise rent more than 10% total or 5% + CPI increase (whichever is lower) over a 12-month period. No-fault evictions are prohibited, so landlords can't evict a tenant without cause.
As of August 2023, the maximum allowable annual rent increase in the Los Angeles Area is restricted to 8.8% (5% + CPI of 3.8%).
The new California law puts a statewide ceiling on rent hikes each year. So if inflation was 4% in your city last year, the maximum increase would be 9% for your unit. This provides an important check against runaway rent spikes every time a lease is renewed.
There is actually no legal requirement for your landlord to provide you a rental agreement or a lease. Legally speaking you are then going to fall under what is commonly known as a month-to-month rental.