Welcome to The Tenure View, If you’re renting in Los Angeles right now, you know it’s not just about the rent check. Utility bills are spiking without warning, landlords are stalling on fire damage cleanup, and even tenant protections are caught in political crossfire.

Yes, Zillow says national rent growth is cooling. But in LA, the lived reality for renters is still shaped by power struggles over fair billing, safe housing, and access to justice. This week, here are the four stories every renter needs to know:

Zillow’s new report shows asking rents grew just 2.9% in June compared to last year — far below the double-digit spikes of 2022. Nationally, rent growth is cooling:

That slowdown may sound like relief, but here’s the catch: rents are still 36% higher than pre-pandemic levels. The “typical” U.S. rent is $2,069 — requiring an income of $82,743 to stay under the federal affordability line【Zillow】.

📌 For LA renters, affordability remains brutal. Los Angeles is ranked among the least affordable rental markets in the country, alongside New York, Miami, and San Diego.

At Virgil Square and Mozaic Apartments, more than 60 LA households are striking against RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System), a landlord practice that splits building-wide utility bills among tenants — often doubling or tripling charges without explanation.

Some tenants saw bills jump from $50 to over $230 in a single month. When renters demanded meter data, landlords refused. Instead, tenants got vague line items and boilerplate responses.

Now, banners drape from balconies — “Don’t Rent Here!” and “Ratio Utility Scam.” Withholding payments is risky, but organizers are betting that collective action can pressure both landlords and city hall to ban the practice altogether【LA Public Press】.

📌 West Hollywood banned RUBS in 2022. Santa Monica courts ruled against it in 2018. But LA City? Still dragging its feet.

In a landmark move, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance requiring landlords in unincorporated areas to keep indoor temps under 82°F.

Starting 2027, landlords must guarantee at least one habitable room stays below that threshold — all rooms by 2032. Tenants also have the explicit right to install fans or A/C without retaliation.

“We know that extreme heat is not just uncomfortable. It is deadly,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis【LA County Board of Supervisors】.

📌 This is a first-of-its-kind standard in LA County — and advocates say it could set the stage for broader renter protections across Southern California.

The City Attorney has launched an audit of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — the lead group behind Stay Housed L.A., which provides free attorneys to renters facing eviction.

Stay Housed L.A. has:

But with rent relief funds exhausted and legal aid funding in limbo, eviction defense could collapse just as renters face rising housing costs【LAist】.

📌 Advocates call the audit “pulling the rug out from under tenants” — and warn it could weaken LA’s fight against homelessness.

This week we’re teasing something new: The Renters Essentials Toolkit.

Checklists, templates, and guides designed to help you:
✅ Fight illegal rent hikes
✅ Dispute unfair RUBS charges
✅ Document habitability violations
✅ Protect your security deposit

💡 Share The Tenure View with 1-3 friends and unlock early access to the Toolkit — including our Move-In/Move-Out checklist and Security Deposit Kit.

Despite political turbulence, Stay Housed L.A. is still operating — connecting tenants with free legal defense, workshops, and resources.

If you’re facing eviction, don’t wait. Reach out early:
👉 Stay Housed LA Website
👉 Call (888) 694-0040

📌 References: Zillow (Aug 2025); LA Public Press (Aug 13, 2025); LA County Board of Supervisors (Aug 15, 2025); LAist (Aug 15, 2025)

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