The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to adopt an ordinance strengthening tenant protections against harassment and making it easier for tenants to sue landlords who break the rules.
The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, known as TAHO, was passed three years ago in an effort to protect tenants from threats or intimidation by landlords. This was greeted as a significant victory for tenants, but advocates began pushing for changes as it resulted in thousands of complaints but resulted in no lawsuits.
The council voted 11-0 to adopt the ordinance, which updates TAHO. The decision comes a day after the council voted to end a rule that allows tenants to be evicted when landlords significantly renovate their buildings.
The new anti-harassment law entitles tenants who win their case in court to three times the amount of damages, minimum penalties and attorney’s fees.
It also redefines harassment as “bad faith conduct by a landlord” toward tenants that causes harm or harm to them.
The changes, advocates said, will better protect tenants and help incentivize private attorneys to handle harassment cases, a change they said was needed to strengthen enforcement.
Since this summer, city housing officials say they have received more than 13,000 complaints alleging harassment. No cases have been subject to criminal prosecution.
Landlord advocates spoke out against the new law during Wednesday’s hearing, saying it aims to increase litigation.
“This will cast an absolute chill on all communication between landlords and tenants because small landlords will live in fear of false allegations of harassment,” said David Kaishchyan of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles.
Dozens of tenants also gathered in council chambers Wednesday to urge the council to approve the law and adopt limits on rent increases. Several spoke of harassment from a landlord, including Rosalba Vargas, who said she had been the victim of harassment in her rental unit for years.
“Rent increases incentivize landlords to evict people who have lived in their property for many years so they can charge more money,” she said. “That’s why they’re harassing us.”
Bullying, she said through tears, “affects our mental and physical health.”
