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✊Renter Power in a Cooling Market — But LA Is Still Heating Up
Welcome to The Tenure View
If you’ve been hearing whispers that renters finally have more negotiating power — it’s partly true. But in Los Angeles? That power might still be on pause.
This week, we break down two major reports from Zillow and RentCafe that reveal an increasingly complex housing story: national rent growth is slowing, inventory is rising, but competition in LA is getting tougher, not easier.
Here’s what renters need to know.
📉 National Rent Growth Is Slowing, But It's Still High
According to Zillow, rents across the U.S. rose just 0.4% in May, down from 0.6% in April — a modest but clear sign that rent hikes are cooling [Zillow, June 2025].
Why? A few reasons:
Rental inventory is up
The broader housing market is softening
More people are staying put
Still, let’s not overstate the win. The average U.S. rent hit $2,049 last month — and single-family rentals rose 3.8% year-over-year. Since the pandemic began, rents are up over 29%.
Even with more inventory, 35% of listings offered concessions like free rent, but renters are still paying nearly 30% of their income on housing.
🏡 LA's Rental Market: Tighter Than Ever
In Los Angeles, it’s a different story.
Rent competition is surging, especially after the early-2025 wildfires displaced many families. Here’s what RentCafe reports:
Lease renewals jumped 5.1%
Only 4% of units are vacant
18 renters are now competing for every available apartment (up from 14 last year)
It now takes just 42 days to fill most vacancies — faster than the national average
Even though new supply is trickling in (just a 0.3% increase), demand is rising faster, especially in Eastern LA County, which ranked #4 on the list of the most competitive rental markets in the U.S. [RentCafe, June 2025].
The reason? Limited new construction + a surge in people staying put.
🧭 What It Means for You
If you’re in LA:
✅ It’s smart to renew your lease early if you’re happy where you are
💬 If you’re apartment hunting, ask about concessions — even in competitive areas
🧾 If your rent went up, use our "Is My Rent Increase Legal?" worksheet to check compliance
If you’re moving to or within LA:
Be prepared: you’re not the only one applying
Consider mid-year leases or lesser-known neighborhoods
Ask: “Are there any move-in specials or incentives?”
🌟 Community Spotlight: RentCafe's Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI)
We want to shout out RentCafe’s team for launching the RCI, a tool that tracks rental competitiveness across the country. Using factors like lease renewal rates, apartment turnover speed, and unit availability, they’ve built a transparent view of what renters are really up against.
Their latest report is one of the most thorough tools out there for renters making decisions in a tight market. We appreciate the data — and we’ll keep decoding it for you.
📣 The Tenure Take
The narrative that “renters have more power now” is only partly true — and definitely not the whole truth in LA.
Yes, nationally, rent growth is slowing. But here at home, tight inventory, wildfire displacement, and slow construction mean you’re still up against high competition and rising lease renewal pressure.
So what can you do? Get informed. Know your rights. And don’t be afraid to negotiate.
We’re here to help — every step of the way.
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