Santa Monica Rent Control Violation Lawyer

Local rent regulation in the Santa Monica area is complex, and Baghikian Law helps tenants identify violations, enforce their protections, and pursue the damages available under California law. Rent rules can come from several layers at once, and the details decide what a landlord may lawfully charge.

Which Rent Rules Apply in Santa Monica

Santa Monica Rent Control Law (City Charter Article XVIII), one of the oldest and strictest in California. Covers apartments built before April 10, 1979. Statewide, AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act, caps many annual increases at 5 percent plus local CPI, never to exceed 10 percent, and requires just cause for most terminations after 12 months. Because coverage turns on the building age, the number of units, and the jurisdiction, we confirm exactly which protections apply to a Santa Monica unit before advising.

Illegal Rent Increases and Overcharges

Where a Santa Monica landlord raises rent beyond the lawful cap, fails to register a covered unit, or imposes improper pass-through charges, tenants may be entitled to refunds and statutory damages. We analyze your rent history against the applicable ordinance and pursue recovery for renters in Downtown Santa Monica, Pico Neighborhood, Mid-City Santa Monica, Ocean Park, and Wilshire Montana and throughout the city.

Enforcing Your Protections

We pursue claims for unlawful rent increases, unregistered units, improper fees and pass-throughs, and failure to pay required relocation assistance. If you believe your rent has been raised unlawfully in Santa Monica, we can review the facts and enforce the protections the law provides.

Read our full rent control violations overview