July 6, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Los Angeles City Council Rejects Six-Month Extension of Rent Freeze, Opts for Smaller Increases

Council Votes to Lower Permissible Rent Hikes, Sending Plan to Full Council

By Dolores Quintana

Members of the Los Angeles City Council’s Housing Committee vetoed a motion for a six-month extension of the pandemic-era ban on rent hikes, as reported by the LAist. The rent increase ban has been in effect for about three-and-a-half years and applied to most Los Angeles apartments. 

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez introduced the proposal for a six-month extension last week. He argued that delaying the return of annual rent increases in Los Angeles’ rent-controlled apartments from February 1 to August 1 would provide council members with additional time to deliberate on the formulation of future rent-control policies. 

Several neighboring cities in the Los Angeles area with rent control regulations now limit increases to 3% or less. The schedule potentially raises rents by 9% at a maximum and 7% at a minimum. Soto Martinez’s website quotes the statistic that “A U.S. Government Accountability Office study found that a 9% increase in homelessness accompanied a rent increase of just $100/month.”

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield presented an alternate proposal, which he viewed as a compromise. His proposal maintains the February 1 date but allows for smaller rent increases based on more recent and lower inflation data, which the committee did approve. 

Blumenfield’s motion would reduce rent increases that are already scheduled for February 2024 for rent-controlled properties. The increase is currently capped at 7%, and Blumenfield’s proposal would lower that to 4%. The regulation would allow an additional increase of 2% for the landlords who provide electricity and gas for their tenants would still be in force. This motion is to advance for a vote before the full city council. It passed 3 to 2, with Blumenfield, Raman, and Marqueece Harris-Dawson voting for the motion and rent cap, and John Lee and Monica Rodriguez voted against it. The motion could still undergo changes before it is submitted to the full city council for approval. 

Soto Martinez proposed the motion to delay this rent increase, reasoning that it would have an explosive and deterrent effect on housing and further exacerbate the homelessness crisis. The Chair of the Housing Committee, Nithya Raman, responded that Soto Martinez’s motion did not have the support to pass. 

Blumenfield said, as quoted by the LAist, that he considered this 4% limit on permissible rent hikes, effective from February 1, as a plan “that nobody will be thrilled with, but sometimes that’s a sign of a good compromise.” This vote took place after an hour of contentious public comment session where tenants and landlords argued and lobbed accusations and ridicule back and forth.

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

Elephants Take Over Beverly Hills: Global Art Exhibit Makes Final Stop at Beverly Gardens Park

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Traveling Installation of Life-Size Sculptures Crafted by Indigenous Artisans Arrives in Beverly Hills Life-size sculptures of Indian elephants have arrived...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...