Rent Control Enforcement

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The division is a local public housing authority that provides housing services for West Hollywood landlords and tenants. The division is a housing authority for the City. Services are restricted to West Hollywood residents and landlords who rent property located in West Hollywood.

The division enforces the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance which regulates the amount of rent paid and collected in the City of West Hollywood to protect tenants from excessive rent increases and to allow landlords a reasonable return on their investment. The division provides information, accepts and investigates complaints, registers rental units, hears appeals for reasonable rent increases, and educates the community about the ordinance. It also provides landlord/tenant dispute resolution services.

Staff answer questions about the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and legal eviction process, and also investigate complaints about violations of the Ordinance. The complaints may relate to issues such as illegal rent increases, non-registration of rental property, a reduction in the level of service without a reduction in rent, non-payment of relocation assistance, and notice to quit based on false and deceptive grounds.

In addition the agency collects yearly registration fees for each rental unit in the city and assesses fines for delinquent payments. Certain rent increases must be approved by the agency; property owners who are denied an increase can appeal the case before the Rent Adjustment Commission.