Renters are 4th Class Citizens

Here’s the list of how you rank in the eyes of LA politicians:

1. Homeowners
2. Homeless
3. Renters with Rent Control (RSO)
4. Renters without Rent Control (non-RSO)

Homeowners (and by this we mean HOUSE owners – we all have homes) are the favored sons, both in the city, state, and even federally! Just like the IRS considers those stable, sedated married people and homeowners the Best of the rest, paying less tax than those shifty single renters, so does the rest of Washington. HUD and many other federal programs are there to help house owners pay their mortgage and get back on their feet.

You have probably seen ads on TV for Keep Your Home, California! The Einsteins of the Treasury decided to give money to the 19 states that had the most unemployment and foreclosures, called the Hardest Hit Fund. Somehow, California squeaked in, and started handing out $1.9 Billion in June, 2011  for PHYSICAL house owners. They topped out at $2.36 billion  when applications closed this past June.

Renters don’t get one penny of that.

Other funds and programs in California and in Los Angeles only available to house owners are too numerous to mention, but I know some of us daydreamers are drooling at the First Time Homebuyer programs here in Los Angeles. Those lucky ducks.

The Homeless. 

Homeless folks are second class citizens (according to city departments) in Los Angeles, not because they are more fortunate, or doing better financially than renters, but because they get respect, money, homes, support, and attention from the city that renters just don’t.  The tide turned over a year ago, when the City Council Committee for Housing suddenly lost 2 council members, who switched over to the Homeless Committee. No preventative thinking there! (For instance, our own Councilman Ryu has been too busy this summer looking under underpasses, to help those of us who got eviction notices. :()

The LA budget this year for the homeless is $440 million. From the LA Weekly:

The $9.9 billion Los Angeles budget approved by the City Council on Monday earmarks nearly half a billion dollars for homeless services, including new housing, shelters, outreach services and sanitation teams

(In contrast, the Highland Park tenants are protesting rent raises of from $500 to $700.)

And other services give the homeless a break, too. We have had numerous break-ins here at Waverly St. from the homeless, including theft, car theft and burglaries. In one instance, the LAPD took the man away in handcuffs and released him a few blocks away. Not fingerprinted, not arrested, not even a report.

Renters with Rent Control

Do you have rent control? 

If your building has over 4 units and you live in LA, and the building was built before 1978, you do! Here’s an easy formula.

Let’s talk about the good deal you made by joining a Rent Control building!

• rent raises of 3% a year
• just cause evictions (they need a pretty darn good reason – from a strict list – to evict you)
• relocation fees from $$7,900 to $20,450
• aid and protection from the Housing Department,
• a Tenant Habitability Plan – if your health or emotional self is at risk, you’re covered

To find out more about the Housing Department – and how they might help you, or help your landlord, instead – go here.

In any case, Los Angeles might not love Rent Control renters, (you’e only 3rd Class Citizens, after all) but they like you.

Renters without Rent Control (non-RSO)

No rent control? You are in a dangerous situation. Any landlord can kick you out for no reason at all (ours, Taylor Equities, did just that) and raise rents as much as they want (Taylor raised ours up to $1000!) And harass you. And bully you. And do construction in your face for months and months and months. (Yes, yes, and yes.)

The majority of renters in Los Angeles don’t have rent control now: 58%! That’s over 1,100,000 people. Rent control started in 1978, but the city has ignored those without it…for 40 years! Not one bill, not one code, no help for non-RSO renters. You can easily lose the roof over your head.

And Housing won’t, can’t help you. Because we don’t have any city laws protecting us. Don’t let your Councilman or Consumer Affairs steer you towards Housing: they’ll snub you. Ouch. An entire city department, paid for by our taxes, off limits to 1/4 of the citizens…how does THAT work?

The bottom line: Los Angeles is trying to scrape you off their shoes.

More information on who we are,. and how to deal with your landlord.