As the cost of living continues to rise, finding affordable housing in Los Angeles has become more important than ever. While truly “cheap” apartments are harder to come by, rent-controlled units can still help renters save money in the long run by limiting annual rent increases and offering stronger tenant protections.
What is the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)?
In the City of Los Angeles, rent control is known as the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). The law mainly applies to multi-unit buildings with a Certificate of Occupancy issued on or before October 1, 1978 and limits how much landlords can increase rent each year.
Rent-controlled apartments are not automatically cheap, since they are typically listed at market price when they become available. The main benefit shows up over time, through regulated annual increases that prevent sudden rent spikes common in market-rate housing.
For example, if rent starts at $2,000 per month, a 4% annual increase would bring it to about $2,433 after five years. In a market-rate unit increasing closer to 8% annually, the same rent could reach roughly $2,938 over the same period.
That difference adds up to more than $30,000 in extra rent paid over five years for the same type of apartment, simply due to the lack of stabilization.
How to find rent controlled apartments in L.A.
Unfortunately, popular apartment apps and websites don’t have filters specifically for rent-controlled apartments. This is why most of the time, renters need to research each property individually. A rule of thumb is to look for older apartment buildings, especially those built before 1979.
For apartments located within the City of Los Angeles proper, you need to use the Zimas website. Once you enter an address, look under the Housing tab for the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) field, which will say Yes or No.
Other L.A. County cities with rent stabilization programs
West Hollywood
- WeHo rental listings.
- Renters can also verify units directly with the city by calling the Rent Stabilization Division at (323) 848-6450.
Santa Monica
- Santa Monica Rent Control Board
- Most eligible buildings were built before 1979.
- Santa Monica maintains records of rent-controlled properties through the city’s Rent Control Board.
Culver City
- Culver City Rent Control and Tenant Protections.
- Culver City’s permanent rent control ordinance took effect in 2020.
- Renters can contact the city directly to verify whether a specific unit is covered.
Best websites to search for older apartments around L.A.
- Westside Rentals, popular for older apartment buildings that are more likely to fall under rent control.
- Craigslist Los Angeles, some landlords specifically advertise units as “RSO” or “rent stabilized.”
- Apartments.com
- Zillow Rentals
