Council Adopts Strengthened Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2024

Today, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to pass an updated iteration of the City’s Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, significantly strengthening the ordinance to include an expanded definition of harassment and a requirement that tenants receive compensatory damages. 

The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance was first passed in Council in June of 2021, after widespread reports from tenants regarding harassment from landlords. The legislation was a critical component of a broader package of renter protections passed in response to the COVID pandemic that, taken together, have significantly reinforced the rights of Angelenos who rent their homes. However, lawyers working on housing issues, tenants’ rights advocates, and tenants themselves have continued to report that harassment remains commonplace.

In response, Councilmember Raman introduced a motion earlier this year to strengthen the language of the ordinance and ensure that tenants are protected from pervasive harassment by landlords. After passing through the Housing & Homelessness Committee, the City Council voted in September to adopt the recommended amendments to the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, including clarifying and expanding the definition of harassment and ensuring that landlords must accept rental assistance payments made by the City. Additionally, updates were made to the language around compensatory damages to require that tenants who win their legal cases receive compensatory damages, thereby much more strongly incentivizing lawyers to take up these cases, as they are more likely to get paid for their work. Today, City Council voted to adopt the final language of the Ordinance.

“Today’s vote is an indication of how much renters matter to this Council,” said Councilmember Raman. “We took the feedback we received from tenants, landlords, lawyers, advocates, and community groups over the past several months and we introduced substantive amendments to address their concerns. The majority of people who live in this City rent their homes and with this strengthened ordinance, we are enacting legislation that actually protects tenants on the ground, not just on paper.”

“In order for policies to be effective they must have tangible results for the people,” said Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “The update to the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance empowers tenants to advocate for their rights, will deter bad actors, and incentivize lawyers to represent more renters. Thank you to the leadership of Councilmember Raman and the organizers who showed us we could achieve more.”

“Today, we took a bold step to put power back in the hands of tenants in a city where skyrocketing rents and an affordable housing shortage have pushed too many to the brink of homelessness,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “The strengthened ordinance has real teeth, new protections with penalties and deterrents to prevent unscrupulous landlords from harassing renters, which too often leads to preventable, illegal evictions. To our community partners who made this happen—this win is yours, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to  end the eviction-to-homelessness pipeline.”

“Renters shouldn’t have to choose between putting up with relentless harassment or risking losing their home,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez. “This is about giving renters the power to stand up to abusive landlords and reclaim their rights.”

“Today’s passage of a stronger Tenant Anti-Harassment ordinance is a significant victory for tenants, who have faced harassment and will now be protected and have the dignity to live in their homes free of fear,” said the Keep LA Housed Coalition. “We applaud Councilmembers Raman, Hernandez, and Soto-Martinez for working with us and their leadership on passing TAHO. The amendments are common sense and the public message is simple: don’t harass tenants or you will face consequences.”

“During Covid, I was continually harassed by the owner of the property where I lived.“I made several reports to the city, but time and time again they closed my cases,” said Maria Briones, member of ACCE. “There were also no lawyers who wanted to take my case because I didn’t have the money to pay. Ultimately, I did not win my battle against the inhumane conditions in my building and I ended up living on the streets. Today’s TAHO victory is significant as there are still many families who continue to suffer harassment and abuse from their landlords.”

The updated Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance will go into effect by mid-December, as directed by Council. 

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