The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to adopt an ordinance strengthening tenant protections. The ordinance would make it easier for tenants to sue landlords who violate the rules. Specifically, the new ordinance law would entitle tenants who win in court up to three times the amount of damages, minimum penalties, and attorney’s fees.

Before the vote, Councilmember Nithya Raman, whose 4^th District includes a portion of the Westside, encouraged members to vote yes “on this very important update to our anti-harassment ordinance which has been, at this point, many years in the making.”

David Kaishchyan of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles spoke out against the vote during public comment.

“This will cast an absolute chill on any communication between owners and renters as small owners will live in fear of false claims of harassment,” he said.

Dozens of tenants also gathered in the council chambers to urge the council to approve the motion.

Val C. said tenants need a robust, effective Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) that truly protects tenants.

“Please re-commit to voting yes on a stronger TAHO ordinance that ensures our community members stay housed and secured. As a LARSO tenant I know firsthand the impact of raising rents and additional occupancies,” said Val C. “These increases prevent people like me from supporting loved ones or taking in family members who need help. We need policies that genuinely protect tenants and keep people housed.”

Under the city’s “just cause” eviction rules, landlords can evict tenants only for specific reasons, one of which is to “substantially remodel” their properties. Remodel evictions have been controversial since AB 1482, California’s Tenant Protection Act of 2019, became law. AB 1482 limits rent increases and gives renters some protections against no-fault evictions but allows tenants to be evicted for substantial remodels, which are defined as “the replacement or substantial modification of any structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system that requires a permit from a governmental agency.”

There is a similar law that already exists for rent-controlled properties under the Tenant Habitability Program. It requires owners doing any significant renovations to submit plans to protect tenants while they remain in their units or are temporarily relocated to other housing.

The local city ordinance passed on June 23, 2021, and was meant to protect tenants from intimidation by landlords. Advocates began pushing for changes as the ordinance brought in thousands of complaints but resulted in no prosecutions.

The update motion reads, “Since the adoption of TAHO, several challenges have arisen necessitating a strengthening of the ordinance to ensure that the city’s public policy goals of preventing tenant harassment not currently covered by the ordinance such as unilateral and uncompensated reductions in key rental amenities and refusal to participate in rental assistance. Second, challenges have emerged in the enforcement of the ordinance.” It continues, “One obstacle has been the high evidentiary bar of proving harassment, rendering enforcement actions challenging to bring.”

Westside Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Traci Park both voted yes. Other jurisdictions in California including Santa Monica, Oakland, and San Francisco have similar pre-existing anti-harassment ordinances.