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🧾 Appliances, Rent Caps & Landlord Harassment: Here’s What LA Renters Need to Know This Week
Welcome to The Tenure View
If you're renting in Los Angeles, you already know it’s not just about paying rent. It’s about navigating systems that don’t always have your back—and fighting to hold onto what little protection you do have.
This week, we’re covering:
A new bill that could make landlords responsible for appliances like fridges and stoves
Rent increase limits that just ticked up (again)
And an audit revealing LA’s tenant harassment law isn’t being enforced
Let’s break it all down so you can stay informed and protected.
🔌 Proposed Law Would Make Landlords Provide Fridges and Stoves
In most of the country, landlords provide basic appliances. But in California? Not so much.
Right now, refrigerators and stoves are legally considered amenities, not necessities—meaning landlords don’t have to include them in rental units.
That could change with Assembly Bill 628, which would require landlords to provide and maintain these essential appliances starting January 1, 2026.
📉 Why this matters:
California renters already pay more than the national average.
Buying a fridge can cost anywhere from $600 to $2,300
For many renters, that’s a month (or more) of rent
If passed, the new law could help lower the barrier to moving into a new place, especially in high-cost cities like LA.
“People are really struggling... we want renters to have one less payment to think about.” — Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Hawthorne)
📈 Rent Cap Just Ticked Up to 8.9% in Most Units
Starting August 1, 2025, the statewide rent cap under the Tenant Protection Act will be 8.9%—up slightly from last year’s 8.8%.
This applies to:
Units built more than 15 years ago
Areas without stricter local rent control
Tenants covered under the Tenant Protection Act (TPA)
🧠 Quick recap of how it works:
State cap = 5% + inflation, up to a max of 10%
This year’s CPI for LA was 3.9%, so: 5% + 3.9% = 8.9%
Landlords must give 30 days’ notice for legal rent hikes under this cap
⚠️ Reminder: LA City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) only allows 4%–6% increases (if the landlord pays for gas or electricity). Make sure you know which rules apply to your unit.
🚨 Tenant Harassment Law Isn't Working, Says City Audit
Back in 2021, LA passed the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) to protect renters from abuse like intimidation, neglect, or pressure to move out.
But a new audit by the LA City Controller says the law is failing renters.
Between 2022 and 2023:
Over 10,000 complaints were filed
But only 23 were referred for enforcement
Most complaints got a weak “TAHO Letter” with no penalties
Other findings:
72% of renters said harassment continued after their case was closed
41% said they didn’t know what evidence they needed
Nearly half didn’t understand the outcome of their case
The audit says LAHD (the city’s housing department) is understaffed, undertrained, and unequipped to enforce TAHO effectively. The report calls for giving investigators more power—including issuing fines directly.
🏘️ Community Spotlight: StayHousedLA.org
This week’s spotlight is on StayHousedLA.org—a quiet but powerful ally for renters across the city.
Here’s why they matter:
They're a coalition of legal aid groups, funded by the City & County of LA
They offer free workshops, legal advice, and representation
They specialize in helping tenants deal with evictions, rent hikes, harassment, and more
If you’re facing:
A rent hike that feels illegal
Harassment from a landlord
An eviction you don’t understand
📌 Go to StayHousedLA.org.
They’ll help you get answers—and back you up with real legal support.
🧠 The Tenure Take
Renting in LA means navigating a system that’s still being built while we’re living in it.
We’ve got bills in the works to fix gaps like appliance access.
We’ve got rent caps trying to keep up with inflation.
And we’ve got tenant laws with no real bite (yet).
That’s why knowing your rights—and your resources—is everything.
👉 Know your rent caps.
👉 Know when harassment is illegal.
👉 Know where to get help (hint: StayHousedLA.org).
And we’ll be right here, breaking it all down every week.
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Sources:
Garcia, K. (2025, April 6). California landlords may have to provide refrigerators, stoves. Los Angeles Times.
Wagner, D. (2024, July 31). New rent hike limits take effect Aug. 1. LAist.
Campa, A. J. (2025, April 6). Tenant harassment law failing, LA audit finds. Los Angeles Times.
Want help reviewing your lease, fighting a rent increase, or just not getting ghosted by your landlord?
StayHousedLA.org has your back.
Til next week,
The Tenure View Team
