The Los Angeles Metropolis Council on Tuesday voted in favor of adopting measures to strengthen town’s tenant anti-harassment ordinance after the unique legislation, accredited three years in the past, resulted in 1000’s of tenant complaints and no prosecutions.
The council voted 12-0 to direct town legal professional to draft an ordinance that would come with a number of amendments to the legislation, referred to as TAHO. They embody redefining what constitutes harassment and imposing a minimal civil penalty of $2,000 per violation.
“Today’s vote is an indication of how much renters matter to this council,” stated Councilmember Nithya Raman, who helped introduce adjustments to the legislation earlier this yr.
The unique legislation was accredited in 2021, banning landlords from harassing tenants and making violations a legal offense. On the time, it was seen by tenant advocates as an vital step towards higher defending renters from being intimidated or threatened by their landlords, which advocates say is usually performed to push tenants from their rent-controlled houses.
As of this summer time, greater than 13,000 complaints alleging harassment had been filed with the housing division. 4 fines had been pending and no circumstances had been criminally prosecuted. The numbers, tenant advocates stated, made it clear that the legislation is ineffective.
“TAHO as currently written is toothless, it is a paper tiger,” legal professional Shane Henson of the nonprofit Internal Metropolis Legislation Middle stated throughout public touch upon Tuesday.
The amendments to the legislation assist create incentives for personal attorneys to tackle harassment circumstances, by introducing minimal penalties and requiring that tenants who win in court docket be awarded legal professional’s charges.
Additionally they redefine harassment. At present, the legislation says to represent harassment, landlords should knowingly and willfully have interaction in conduct that causes detriment and hurt and “serves no lawful purpose,” a typical advocates stated was unattainable to show. With the adjustments it could say harassment is “bad faith” conduct that causes tenants detriment or hurt.
Landlord advocates known as the the legislation one-sided and stated town must also ban harassment by tenants towards landlords.
“Until the city provides equal protection to all residents people will continue to live in fear for their personal safety,” stated David Kaishchyan of the Condominium Assn. of Better Los Angeles. Some landlords have stated they often face harassment from upset tenants, together with when tenants and advocates protest in entrance of their houses.
On Tuesday, tenant advocates crammed the council chambers to advocate for the proposed amendments, and a number of other renters spoke tearfully about experiencing harassment from landlords.
“We need help, please,” stated renter Norma Solis, who stated she has skilled years of harassment and has change into afraid of going outdoors.
Through the assembly, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez re-introduced amendments that upped the quantity of damages tenants are entitled to once they prevail in court docket and set a minimal penalty of $2,000. They had been additionally accredited by the council. These penalties are key to stopping unhealthy habits, she stated.
“What we’re trying to do is deter harassment from happening in the first place,” she stated.
