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SPECIAL
📰 The Tenure View — Special Edition 🦃
Welcome to The Tenure View, On a week when many households pause, gather, or simply try to make it through the long weekend, we know a lot of renters are still navigating rising housing costs, ongoing displacement from wildfires, and new reforms reshaping Los Angeles. So today’s issue is short — but important.
Here’s what you need to know right now.
💥 Lead Story: Major Landlord Settles for Alleged Rent Collusion — A Big Win for Renters
One of the nation’s largest landlords, Greystar, has reached a $7 million multi-state settlement after being accused of using RealPage’s rent-setting algorithm to coordinate pricing with competitors — a practice that allegedly inflated rents for thousands of Southern California renters.
What happened
Greystar manages 333 apartment communities in California using RealPage’s system.
The software allegedly used non-public competitor data to suggest higher rent prices.
The DOJ argues the software distorted competition and produced uniform rent hikes across cities like L.A., Long Beach, and OC.
As part of the settlement, Greystar must stop using any pricing software that relies on competitors’ sensitive data.
Why this matters
This marks one of the biggest renter victories in recent memory, signaling:
tighter scrutiny on algorithmic rent-setting tools
more pressure on large operators to justify rent increases
potential ripple effects for thousands of L.A. apartments
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta said it clearly:
“Colluding to drive up prices — whether in a backroom or with an algorithm — is illegal.”
This is the first major crack in RealPage’s business model. More litigation is on the way.
🏠 Quick Take: L.A. Tightens Rent Control — What Actually Changed
Last week, the L.A. City Council lowered the annual rent increase cap on rent-controlled units (built before 1978), reducing it from:
3–8% ➜ now 1–4%
That affects nearly 75% of all multi-family rentals in the city.
Supporters say:
It slows displacement during a housing emergency.
Tenants on fixed or low incomes get relief.
It narrows large year-over-year renewal jumps.
Critics say:
It accelerates mom-and-pop sell-offs.
Costs (insurance, maintenance, seismic retrofits) are rising faster than allowed rent increases.
Stricter caps push landlords to raise rents even higher during turnover, which research suggests already drives most average rent increases.
The truth:
Los Angeles is walking a tightrope — protecting renters while hoping not to shrink the supply of rental housing. The impacts will unfold over the next 12–36 months.
📉 Market Snapshot: Rent Drops + Big Concessions = Renter Power Is Growing
Although L.A. remains expensive, the national rental market is cooling fast:
National rents fell 0.3% in September — the largest September drop in 15 years.
Single-family rents grew just 1.4% year-over-year (vs. 3% last year).
Landlords in many cities are offering:
❄️ free months of rent
🚚 paid moving costs
🎁 gift cards
🅿️ free parking
Nationally, 37% of households rent — but renters (especially young renters) are staying put longer, searching more slowly, and negotiating harder.
Renters have more leverage right now than at any time since the mid-2010s.
🌎 Trend: More Renters Are Looking Beyond Their Home City
Realtor.com data shows that in 20 of the 50 largest metros, most apartment searches now come from outside the region.
Examples:
Raleigh: 70% of rental interest is from out-of-market renters
Hartford: 68%
Richmond: 66%
But in L.A. and NYC?
Searchers remain overwhelmingly local, driven by high home prices and limited paths to ownership.
In-market pressure means fewer deals and slower price drops in L.A., even as other cities cool more dramatically.
🧭 Renter Tip of the Week: If Your Home Was Damaged in the Fires
With thousands still displaced from the January wildfires, here’s what you’re legally entitled to:
You can request:
Full ventilation + HVAC cleaning
Cleaning of all vents, ducts, and surfaces exposed to soot or ash
Repairs done to professional standard (not patched paint)
Habitability inspections
Under California law — and now SB 610 — landlords must remediate fire debris in rental units.
If your landlord isn’t responding:
L.A. City Housing Department – File a code complaint
L.A. County Public Health – For Altadena unincorporated
Pasadena Code Compliance – For Pasadena residents
Altadena Tenants Union – Guides, legal letters, pro bono lists
Legal Aid Foundation of L.A. (LAFLA) – Free eviction + habitability help
Stay Housed L.A. – Legal clinics and representation
Public Counsel – Tenant rights support
You should not have to return to a unit with visible soot, mismatched patchwork repairs, or uncleaned air systems.
If this is you, reply to this email — we can point you to the right office immediately.
🌆 If You’re Staying Local: Things To Do in L.A. This Week
Not everyone is traveling or participating in holiday activities. For those staying in the city — whether for quiet time, community connection, or simply to get out of the house — here are low-stress, renter-friendly ways to spend the day.
⭐ Gentle, outdoors, and free/low-cost options
Walk the L.A. River Path — Elysian Valley stretch is peaceful and open.
Griffith Park morning trails — Go early for lighter crowds and cleaner air.
LA Public Library branches — Most reopen Friday; great for quiet study or reading.
LA Mission’s Community Event (Skid Row) — Thousands receive meals; volunteers welcome.
Serenity Spots recommended by LA residents:
Echo Park Lake
Kenneth Hahn Park scenic overlooks
Marvin Braude Bike Trail (Venice to Santa Monica)
⭐ For music, culture, and arts lovers
Shepard Fairey: Out of Print — 400+ prints reflecting activism + design.
Kimya Dawson at The Troubadour (if you’re into indie-acoustic storytelling).
Fred Armisen at Largo — Comedy + music.
Khruangbin at the Fonda — Psychedelic, relaxing soundscape.
⭐ If you want community without “holiday energy”
Local plant-based gatherings and potlucks (non-religious, non-traditional).
Bookstores open late afternoon: Skylight, Stories, Now Serving.
Coffee shops that stay open: Go Get Em Tiger (many locations), Alchemist, Kumquat (Highland Park).
🚗 Travel Tips for L.A. Renters This Week (Especially If You’re Driving)
AAA is projecting 81.8 million travelers this week — a U.S. record.
Here’s the short version:
🚫 Worst Times to Drive
Tuesday: 12 PM–9 PM
Wednesday: 11 AM–8 PM
Sunday: All day (11 AM–8 PM heavy congestion)
✅ Best Times to Drive
Early morning — before 11 AM on any day
Thanksgiving Day — early morning or late evening tends to be calmest
Saturday — lightest travel day of the week
🚨 Safety Notes
35% of Thanksgiving-week crash deaths involve impaired driving.
Have a sober ride plan (Lyft/Uber, Metro Rail, designated driver).
Check tire pressure & fuel night before travel (AAA got 600,000 road calls last year).
🧭 Top Congested L.A. Corridors
I-5 North (L.A. → Bakersfield): 147% longer Wednesday night
I-15 (San Diego → Palm Springs): 79% longer Wednesday 5:00 PM
101 North (SF → Santa Rosa): 114% longer Tuesday evening
🏡 Hosting in an Apartment? Here Are Stress-Free Tips
Many renters live in small spaces — but still host family, friends, or simple gatherings. Here are renter-friendly, non-holiday-specific hosting tips you can use anytime.
🪑 1. Flip your space layout temporarily
Move sofa forward and place chairs along walls to create standing/mingling space.
Use your bed as a “coat room” by throwing a clean sheet over it.
🧹 2. Spot-clean + ventilate quickly
Focus on the “triangle” (entry → kitchen → bathroom).
Open windows for 10 minutes to freshen ventilation.
If you’re in a wildfire-damaged area, avoid candles/incense — use LED warm lights instead.
🍽️ 3. Keep food simple + renter-friendly
One main dish + two sides.
Use ice-packed buckets instead of fridge space.
Lay out one trash bag + one recycling bag in plain view.
🧘 4. Set boundaries if you don’t want a long gathering
Use subtle cues:
Soft lighting instead of bright
No TV or music that signals “party time”
Pre-announce a time window (“2:00–5:00 PM stop-by”)
🔇 5. Noise awareness
RLA rules require:
No excessive noise
No amplified sound after 9–10 PM depending on building
(Renters often get blamed for the building’s chaos — staying within noise rules protects you.)
❤️ A Note to Readers
Today isn’t celebratory for everyone. Some are with loved ones, some are working, some are recovering from displacement, and others are spending the day quietly — or alone — simply trying to get through the week.
Wherever this message finds you, we’re here to give clarity, not noise.
Thank you for reading The Tenure View.
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