Due to a critical shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing in the unincorporated areas of the county, the board of supervisors enacted the ordinance codified in this chapter and from time to time extended it. A two-year phased deregulation extended rent control until June 30, 1983. It was based upon the extreme financial hardship to and a dislocation of numerous rent-controlled tenants which would ensue as a result of immediate termination of rent regulation. The board now finds that because rents to existing tenants have been held at artificially low levels, a two-tier rent structure has been created; that is, market-rate rents for new tenants and substantially under-market rents for tenants with controlled units. By lifting all controls at this time, the rent levels on the regulated units will have a tendency to rise to market value in a relatively short period. The result will be tenant dislocation and short-term economic hardships, especially for the elderly, if the current ordinance is immediately terminated. The board finds that, due to vacancy decontrol, a large percentage of rental units are no longer subject to rent control and, further, that rental units occupied by the elderly are more likely still to be subject to rent control since the mobility of such individuals is substantially less than that of other renters. Therefore, those elderly on fixed incomes who remain in controlled units will be severely impacted by sudden decontrol. The board, nevertheless, finds that it is necessary in the long term to provide sufficient incentives and reduce rent-control regulation in order to create opportunities for new construction in the county. For these reasons, this board now finds it necessary in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the unincorporated area of the county, to adopt a transition ordinance with a 30-month term, terminating on December 31, 1985. The transition ordinance provides that during the last 12 months of its term (January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1985), units shall be permanently removed from rent control based on the month that the tenant then occupying the controlled unit initially moved into the unit. For example, if a tenant moved into a controlled unit on March 5, 1975, the unit would be removed from rent control on March 31, 1985; if the tenant moved in on December 1, 1977, the unit would be removed on December 31, 1985. The board finds that this mechanism will ease the administrative difficulties in winding down the ordinance. (Ord. 83-0089 § 1, 1983: Ord. 12346 § 1, 1981: Ord. 12231 § 1, 1980: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 1, 1979.)

The board of supervisors finds that although many rental units have been subject to vacancy decontrol under the existing rent regulation ordinance, the problems posed by immediate decontrol, as of June 30, 1983, for the tenants still subject to rent control are likely to be major. The board is currently exploring practical methods of alleviating those problems for tenants while insuring the rights of landlords to experience a just and reasonable return on their investment. Specifically, the board has under consideration a proposal for the 30-month extension of rent regulation and the establishment of a mediation panel through which tenants would be accorded an opportunity to meet and confer with landlords prior to eviction or imposition of rental increases. In order to study the effects of such a proposal upon the current housing problems and to determine the extent of current effects of the housing shortage, this board finds that it is necessary to continue to regulate rents at their current rate for an additional two weeks until July 14, 1983. (Ord. 83-0084 § 1, 1983.)

A. “Average per-unit capital improvement cost” means an amount determined by dividing the cost of the capital improvement by the total number of dwellings in a complex with respect to which the cost was incurred, irrespective of whether all such dwellings are subject to this chapter.
B. “Average per-unit rehabilitation cost” means an amount determined by dividing the cost of the rehabilitation, less any off-setting insurance proceeds, by the total number of dwellings in a complex with respect to which the cost was incurred, irrespective of whether all such dwellings are subject to this chapter.
C. “Capital improvement” means the addition or replacement of the following improvements to a rental unit or common areas of the housing complex containing the rental unit, provided such new improvement has a useful life of five years or more: roofing, carpeting, draperies, stuccoing the outside of the building, air conditioning, security gates, swimming pool, sauna or hot tub, fencing, garbage disposal, washing machine or clothes dryer, dishwasher, children’s play equipment permanently installed on the premises, and other similar improvements as determined by the regional planning department. The regional planning department shall develop and submit to the board for approval regulations as to what constitutes a “capital improvement.”
D. “Dwelling unit” means a group of two or more rooms, one of which is a kitchen, designed for occupancy by one family for living and sleeping purposes.
E. “Efficiency dwelling unit” means a room located within an apartment house or apartment hotel, used or intended to be used for residential purposes, which has a kitchen and living and sleeping quarters combined therein.
F. “Guest room” means any habitable room except a kitchen, designed or used for occupancy by one or more persons and not in a dwelling.
G. “Housing services” means services connected with the use or occupancy of a rental unit, including, but not limited to, utilities (including light, heat, water and telephone), ordinary repairs or replacement, and maintenance, including painting. This term shall also include the provision of elevator service, laundry facilities, and privileges, common recreational facilities, janitor service, resident manager, refuse removal, furnishings, parking, and any other benefits, privileges or facilities.
H. “Landlord” means an owner, lessor or sublessor (including any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity) who receives or is entitled to receive rent for the use of any rental unit, or the agent, representative or successor of any of the foregoing.
I. “Maintenance costs” means costs to repair existing buildings or equipment which were a part of the rental unit or rental unit complex at the time of the tenant’s original occupancy, with the exception of those items defined under “capital improvements” or “rehabilitation work.”
J. “Rehabilitation work” means any rehabilitation or repair work done on or in a rental unit, or common areas of the housing complex containing the rental unit, and which work was done in order to comply with an order issued by the county engineer, the county public health department, or the county fire department, to repair damages resulting from fire, earthquake or other natural disaster.
K. “Rent” means the consideration, including any bonus, benefits or gratuity, demanded or received by a landlord for or in connection with the use or occupancy of a rental unit, or the assignment of a lease for such a unit, including but not limited to moneys demanded or paid for parking, furnishings, housing services of any kind, and subletting.
L. “Rental units” means all dwelling units, efficiency dwelling units, guest rooms and suites in the unincorporated areas of the county of Los Angeles, together with the land and buildings appurtenant thereto, and all housing services, privileges, furnishings and facilities supplied in connection with the use or occupancy thereof, including garage and parking facilities. This term shall also include mobile homes, whether rent is paid for the mobile home and the land upon which the mobile home is located, or rent is paid for the land alone. The term shall not include:
1. Housing accommodations in hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes and boarding and rooming houses, provided that at such time as an accommodation has been occupied by one or more of the same tenants for 60 days or more, such accommodation shall become a rental unit subject to the provisions of this chapter;
2. Housing accommodations in nonprofit cooperatives owned and controlled by a majority of the residents;
3. Housing accommodations in any hospital, convent, monastery, extended medical-care facility, asylum, nonprofit home for the aged, or housing accommodations owned, operated or managed by an institution of higher education, a high school, or an elementary school for occupancy by its students;
4. Housing accommodations which a government unit, agency or authority owns, operates or manages, or which are specifically exempted from county rent regulation by state or federal law or administrative regulation;
5. Housing accommodations located in a structure for which a certificate of occupancy was first issued after July 1, 1979;
6. Single-family dwellings.
M. “Rent increase” means an increase in rent or any reduction in housing services where there is not a corresponding reduction in the amount of rent received. The regional planning department shall promulgate regulations as to what constitutes such “corresponding reduction.”
N. “Tenant” means a tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, or any other person entitled to use or occupancy of a rental unit.
O. “Suite” means a group of habitable rooms designated as a unit and occupied by only one family, but not including a kitchen or other facilities for the preparation of food, with entrances and exits which are common to all rooms comprising the suite. (Ord. 2006-0040 § 34, 2006; Ord. 83-0089 § 2, 1983: Ord. 82-0058 § 1, 1982; Ord. 82-0056 § 1, 1982: Ord. 12346 § 2, 1981; Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 2, 1979.)

The base rent shall be the maximum rent permitted under this chapter as of June 29, 1983. (Ord. 83-0089 § 3, 1983: Ord. 12346 § 3, 1981: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 3, 1979.)

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, between June 30, 1983 and December 31, 1985, no landlord shall demand, accept, or retain more than the base rent established pursuant to Section 8.52.030 increased by nine percent annually; but if the landlord pays all the costs of electricity and/or gas services for a rental unit then the rent may be increased an additional one percent for each such service paid by the landlord. If a rent increase is imposed pursuant to this section, then no rent increase may be imposed pursuant to this section until 12 consecutive months or more have elapsed since such rent increase. (Ord. 83-0089 § 4, 1983: Ord. 12346 § 4, 1981: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 4, 1979.)

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, between June 30, 1983 and July 14, 1983, inclusive, no landlord shall demand, accept, or retain more than the maximum rent permitted on June 29, 1983. (Ord. 83-0084 § 2, 1983.)

A. New and Increased Fees or Assessments.
1. If on or after June 30, 1981 a new or increased fee or assessment is placed upon a rental property by the county, a city, or a special district, the landlord may, without seeking approval of the rent adjustment commission, increase the rent on each rental unit within said property to recoup such new fee or assessment or the increase in the amount of such fee or assessment.
2. When increasing rents pursuant to this section, the landlord shall increase the rent on all rental units affected on a pro rata basis of rent charged, and shall not increase rents more than is necessary in order to recoup the amount of any new fee or assessment or of the increase in the amount of such fee or assessment.
B. Notification of Tenants. Each landlord who demands or accepts a rent increase pursuant to subsection A of this section effective on or after June 30, 1981, shall inform the tenant in writing of the factual justification for the rent increase. (Ord. 12346 § 6, 1981: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 4.2, 1979.

A. Limitation of Increase for Security Deposit. If the rent is increased pursuant to this chapter during the term of the tenancy, and security as defined in California Civil Code Section 1950.5 on deposit with the landlord is less than one month’s rent. the landlord may demand or accept an increase in the amount of the security; provided, however, that the amount so demanded or accepted shall not bring the security on deposit above the amount of the new monthly rent.
B. Notification of tenants. the landlord who demands or accepts a security increase pursuant to subsection A of this section on or after February 28, 1982 shall inform the tenant in writing of the justification for this increase.
C. Election to Pay in 10-percent Increments. Within 30 days after notification pursuant to subsection B of this section, an affected tenant may elect to pay such increase in increments of 10 percent of the increase per month over a period of 10 months. (Ord. 82-0058 § 2, 1982.)

A. Creation and Organization of the County Rent Adjustment Commission. There is created and established a commission to be known as the “county rent adjustment commission.”
B. Membership. Each member of the board shall nominate three persons to be appointed to the commission, and the board from such nominations shall appoint 15 members to the commission. The three persons nominated by each board member shall consist of one landlord, one tenant, and one person who is neither a landlord nor a tenant.
C. Term. The term of office for each member of the commission shall be for the period of time the ordinance codified in this chapter is in effect, except that the board may remove any member at any time.
D. Meetings. The commission shall meet at least once every two months.
E. Compensation. Each member shall be paid $25.00 for each day the member attends a meeting or sits as a member of a rent adjustment panel.
F. Duties. The commission shall be responsible for acting upon applications for rent adjustments submitted pursuant to Section 8.52.070 of this chapter.
G. At its first meeting, the commission shall elect a chairperson and such other officers as the commission may deem appropriate. The chairperson shall divide the commission into five rent adjustment panels, each panel to consist of a landlord, a tenant, and a person who is neither a landlord nor a tenant.
H. An application for a rent adjustment shall be assigned by the chairperson to a designee; that is, to a rent adjustment panel or to staff. The rent adjustment panel or staff shall act upon the application, and its decision shall constitute the decision of the commission unless appealed by the affected applicant or tenant to the commission as a whole.
1. The director of the department of community development shall designate department employees to furnish staff support to the commission. (Ord. 82-0055 § 1, 1982: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 4.5, 1979.)

A. The rent adjustment commission, acting through its rent adjustment panels or staff, in accordance with guidelines developed by the regional planning department and approved by the board, shall have the authority to grant adjustments in the rent for a rental unit or units located in the same housing complex upon receipt of an application for adjustment filed by the landlord of the unit or units if it finds that one or more of the following grounds exist:
1. That on or after April 1, 1978, the landlord has completed a capital improvement with respect to a rental unit and has not increased the rent to reflect the cost of such improvement. If a rent adjustment panel or staff so finds, the landlord shall be entitled to a monthly rental increase calculated by amortizing the cost of such improvement over a period of time set forth in regulations adopted by the commission; provided, however, that in no event shall the monthly rent increase exceed one-sixtieth (1/60) of the average per unit capital improvement cost;
2. That on or after April 1, 1978, the landlord has completed rehabilitation work with respect to a rental unit and has not increased the rent to reflect the cost of such work. If a rent adjustment panel so finds, the landlord shall be entitled to a monthly rent increase of one-thirty-sixth (1/36) of the average per unit rehabilitation cost;
3. That the maximum rent otherwise permitted by this chapter does not permit a just and reasonable return on the rental unit or units. The following are factors, as the regional planning department may develop and propose to the board for approval which may be considered in determining whether a rental unit yields a just and reasonable return:
a. Property taxes,
b. Reasonable operating and maintenance expenses,
c. The extent of capital improvements made to the building in which the rental unit is located, as distinguished from ordinary repair, replacement and maintenance,
d. Living space, and the level of the housing services,
e. Substantial deterioration of the rental units other than as a result of ordinary wear and tear, and
f. Failure to perform ordinary repair, replacement and maintenance.
B. Anti-speculation Provision. If the only justification offered on the landlord’s application for the requested rent increase, pursuant to subsection A3 of this section, is an assertion that the maximum rents permitted pursuant to this chapter do not allow the landlord return sufficient to pay both the operating expenses and debt service on the rental unit or units or on the housing complex containing the rental unit or units, a rent adjustment will not be permitted pursuant to this subsection to a landlord who acquired an interest in the rental unit or units after July 1, 1979.
C. Procedures.
1. An application for rent adjustment shall be submitted on a form and with the number of copies prescribed by the clerk of the rent adjustment commission, and shall include among other things the addresses and unit numbers of the unit or units for which an adjustment is requested. Such application may include all rental units in a housing complex for which a rent increase is requested. An application must be accompanied by a $25.00 filing fee. An applicant shall produce at the request of the rent adjustment commission or designee such records, receipts or reports as the commission or designee may deem necessary to make a determination on the adjustment request. Failure to produce such requested items shall be sufficient basis for the commission or designee to terminate the rent adjustment proceeding. All applications for rent adjustment, together with all written evidence presented in support thereof, shall be under oath or penalty of perjury.
2. Upon receipt of a completed application, the clerk of the rent adjustment commission shall notify by mail the tenant or tenants of the subject unit or units of the receipt of such application, the amount of the requested rent increase, the landlord’s justification for the request and the tenant’s right to submit written objections to the applicant’s request within 10 working days.
3. A determination, with written findings in support thereof, shall be made by a rent adjustment panel or staff within 30 days from the date of the filing of the application; provided, however, that said 30-day time limit shall be suspended and not continue to run until such time as the landlord has furnished all information requested by the commission or designee. A rent adjustment may be granted for less, but for no more than, the amount requested.
4. Copies of the findings and determination of the rent adjustment panel or staff shall be mailed by the panel to the applicant and all affected tenants. The determination shall be final unless appealed by the applicant or any affected tenant within 15 working days from the date of determination. Appeals shall be in writing. (Ord. 82-0055 § 2, 1982: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 5, 1979.)

Notwithstanding any other provision in the ordinance codified in this chapter, or any other ordinance, the duties of the rent adjustment commission and rent adjustment panels shall be performed in that area of the county known as the Marina del Rey by the county small craft harbor commission unless assigned by that body to its staff. (Ord. 82-0055 § 3, 1982: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 5.5, 1979.)

A. Permissible Causes. A landlord may bring an action to recover possession of a rental unit only upon one of the following grounds:
1. The tenant has failed to pay the rent to which the landlord is entitled;
2. The tenant has violated an obligation or covenant of the tenancy, other than the obligation to surrender possession upon proper notice, and has failed to cure such violation after having received written notice thereof from the landlord;
3. The tenant is committing or permitting to exist a nuisance in, or is causing damage to the rental unit or to the appurtenances thereof, or to the common areas of the complex containing the rental unit, or is creating an unreasonable interference with the comfort, safety or enjoyment of any of the other residents of the same or any adjacent building;
4. The tenant is using or permitting a rental unit to be used for any illegal purpose;
5. The tenant who had a written lease or rental agreement which terminated on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, has refused, after written request or demand by the landlord, to execute a written extension or renewal thereof for a further term of like duration with similar provisions and in such terms as are not inconsistent with or violative of any provision of this chapter;
6. The tenant has refused the landlord reasonable access to the unit for the purpose of making repairs or improvements, or for the purpose of inspection as permitted or required by the lease or by law, or for the purpose of showing the rental unit to any prospective purchaser or mortgagee;
7. The person in possession of the rental unit at the end of a lease term is a subtenant not approved by the landlord;
8. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the rental unit for use and occupancy of the rental unit by the landlord or the landlord’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law;
9. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession so as to rehabilitate or remodel the rental unit, and the work to be performed necessitates the removal of the rental unit from rental housing use;
10. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession for the purpose of converting the unit into a condominium, cooperative or community apartment, and the landlord has complied with the notice requirements of Government Code Section 66427.1 and the requirements of Chapter 8.48 of this code relating to condominium, cooperative or community apartment conversion projects;
11. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession in order to permanently remove the rental unit from rental housing use.
B. Notification of Tenants. The landlord shall state the reason for the just-cause eviction on the written notice of termination served on the tenant pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1946.
C. Retaliatory Evictions. If the dominant intent of the landlord in seeking to recover possession of a rental unit is retaliation against the tenant for exercising his or her rights under this chapter, and if the tenant is not in default as to the payment of rent, the landlord may not recover possession of a rental unit in any action or proceeding or cause the tenant to quit voluntarily.
D. Notice to Cure. Before a landlord can use tenant violation of a covenant or obligation of tenancy as grounds for eviction pursuant to subsection A2 of this section, the landlord must have provided the tenant with a written statement of the respective covenants and obligations of both the landlord and tenant prior to such alleged violation, and such statement must have set forth the particular covenant or obligation subsequently alleged to have been violated.
E. Affirmative Defense. In any action by a landlord to recover possession of a rental unit, the tenant may raise as an affirmative defense any of the grounds set forth in subsections A, B, C and D of this section. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6, 1979.)

A landlord may not evict a tenant because a tenant allowed the rental premises to be used as a polling place or polling location pursuant to a polling place rental agreement with the county registrar of voters. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.1, 1979.)

The relocation assistance provided for in Sections 8.52.120, 8.52.130 and 8.52.140 of this chapter shall be provided to tenants who are evicted for the purpose of demolishing a unit or converting a unit into a condominium, cooperative or community apartment, or transferring ownership thereof, or to tenants who voluntarily vacate after receiving written notice from the landlord of the intention to demolish or convert; provided, however, that such relocation assistance shall nor be required if the rental unit was rented to all of the current tenants subsequent to their receipt of a written notice of intention to demolish or convert. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(A), 1979.)

A. The landlord shall assist each tenant in finding a comparable replacement rental unit. Comparability shall be determined from the following factors: size, price, location, and amenities. A unit is not comparable if it is located in a building for which an application for conversion purposes has been filed with any governmental agency. Such assistance shall be available to all eligible tenants within 10 days of the date on which the 120-day notice required by Government Code Section 66427.1 is sent to each tenant. Such assistance shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1. Making available to each tenant an updated report concerning the availability of comparable rental housing in the area of the tenant’s present unit;
2. Driving tenants without cars, and assisting tenants with cars, in order to inspect units.
B. Until each tenant is successfully relocated pursuant to the provisions of this section and Sections 8.52.110 and 8.52.030 through 8.52.170 the tenant shall be permitted to reside in the unit presently occupied in the conversion project; provided, however, the subdivider is not required to consent to continue tenancy beyond the latest of:
1. 12 months from the date of tentative tract map or tentative parcel map approval; or
2. 120 days after the date on which the 120-day notice of intent is given to all tenants; or
3. The receipt by the subdivider of the final subdivision report from the department of real estate. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(B), 1979.)

The landlord shall pay $500.00 to each eligible household to cover moving costs, said amount to be paid on or before the date the unit is vacated. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5 (C), 1979.)

The landlord shall pay to each eligible household, at the time a unit is vacated, $1,000.00; or, at the tenant’s election, a sum equal to the current monthly rental times the number of years or portions thereof a tenant has occupied the unit, if, at the time the unit was vacated, it was subject to Sections 8.52.030 and 8.52.040 of this chapter. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(D), 1979.)

A. In the event a structure is converted to a condominium, cooperative or community apartment, the landlord shall deposit, in an interest-bearing account, one percent of the purchase price of each unit; or, if all units are not sold within 18 months after final map approval, one percent of the current market value for each unsold unit as reflected on the assessor’s tax roll at the expiration of said 18-month period. The deposits required by this section shall be deposited within 10 days after the agreement to purchase has been executed, or within 10 days after the expiration of the 18-month period, whichever is applicable.
B. The county housing authority shall be the owner of the account, and funds deposited therein may be withdrawn by the county housing authority for use in the development of lower-income housing, including, but not limited to, the subsidizing of the cost of land to make a federally subsidized project financially feasible. In the event the county housing authority uses said funds to subsidize a private development, the authority shall require the developer to execute a covenant and agreement that the project shall be restricted to lower-income apartment use for 20 years. In no event, however, may said funds be used for general administrative expenses of the county housing authority. The use of such funds by the county housing authority shall be in accordance with the following priority:
1. First priority shall be to use the funds within a five-mile radius of the converted project;
2. Second priority shall be to use the funds within the Supervisorial District of the converted project;
3. Third priority shall be to use the funds elsewhere within the county housing authority’s jurisdiction. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(E), 1979.)

The owner of a rental unit shall not perform work in such unit associated with the conversion project until such time as all of the tenants have vacated the unit or one or more of the tenants has executed an agreement to purchase said unit. Nothing in this section or Sections 8.52.110 through 8.52.150 and 8.52.170 shall prevent the owner from performing routine maintenance or other work required to maintain the unit in a habitable condition. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(F), 1979.)

Sections 8.52.110 through 8.52.160 shall not apply to any educational institution of collegiate grade, within the state of California, not conducted for profit, where:
A. Said institution is converting apartment housing occupied by its students to either condominiums, community apartments or stock cooperatives;
B. The purpose of the conversion is for sales to its teachers and other personnel of said institution; and
C. The students in said apartment are provided adequate replacement housing by said institution. (Ord. 12164 § 1, 1980: Ord. 11950 § 6.5(G), 1979.)

This chapter shall not apply to any rental unit rented pursuant to a written lease agreement for a fixed term of more than one month that was signed by the tenant prior to February 26, 1979. Upon expiration of said lease, this exemption shall no longer apply. (Ord. 12202 § 1, 1980: Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 8, 1979.)

A. Section 8.52.030 (base rent) and Section 8.52.040 (restriction in rents) shall not apply to luxury housing accommodations wherein:
1. For units offered in the rental market on May 31, 1978, or prior thereto, the rent charged on May 31, 1978, or if not rented on said date, the rent charged to the previous tenant, was at least:
$302.00 for a unit with no bedrooms,
$420.00 for a unit with one bedroom,
$588.00 for a unit with two bedrooms,
$756.00 for a unit with three bedrooms,
$823.00 for a unit with four bedrooms or more;
2. For units first offered in the rental market between June 1, 1978 and June 30, 1979, the rent charged to the first tenant occupying the unit was at least:
$325.00 for a unit with no bedrooms,
$452.00 for a unit with one bedroom,
$632.00 for a unit with two bedrooms,
$813.00 for a unit with three bedrooms,
$885.00 for a unit with four bedrooms or more.
B. The exemption provided by this section shall not apply to mobile homes. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 8.5, 1979.)

A. Voluntary Vacancy or Eviction for Failure to Pay Rent. If, after July 1, 1979, a rental unit is voluntarily vacated by all of the tenants, or is vacated by all of the tenants as a result of an eviction based on the failure to pay rent to which the landlord is entitled, said unit shall no longer be subject to Section 8.52.030 (base rent), Section 8.52.040 (restriction in rents), Section 8.52.050 (restriction in rents), Section 8.52.055 (automatic adjustments), Section 8.52.070 (rent adjustments), Section 8.52.080 (rent adjustments--Marina del Rey) or Section 8.52.090 (evictions) of this chapter. This exemption shall not apply:
1. Where the tenants who voluntarily vacated or were evicted were placed into possession following an eviction pursuant to subsection A8 of Section 8.52.090 (use of unit by landlord or a family member) of this chapter; and
2. The tenants remained in possession for less than six months.
B. Eviction under Section 8.52.090 A2--A10. If a rental unit is vacated by all of the tenants after July 22, 1979, as a result of an eviction of tenancy based on one or more of the grounds described in subsections A2 through A10, inclusive, of Section 8.52.090, the rent may not be increased upon re-rental of the unit, except as otherwise provided by this chapter. The vacation of a rental unit by a tenant as a result of the landlord creating an unreasonable interference with the tenant’s comfort, safety or enjoyment of the rental unit shall not be deemed a voluntary vacation, and shall not be a ground for increasing the rent to the next occupant of the rental unit. (Ord. 82-0057 § 1, 1982; Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 8.6, 1979.)

Units for which renovation work was started and completed on or after September 1, 1980, for which work the landlord paid not less than $ 15,000.00 for each unit renovated, and subsequently offered on the rental market, shall be decontrolled for all purposes. (Ord. 83-0089 § 6, 1983.)

If a tenant or tenants shall execute an assignment of all rights to the rental unit to any third party or parties without the express written agreement of the landlord consenting to the application of the regulation provided under this chapter, the unit assigned shall be decontrolled for all purposes. (Ord. 83-0089 § 7, 1983.)

A. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this chapter shall cease to be in effect December 31, 1985; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall be considered as still remaining in full force and effect thereafter for the purpose of maintaining or defending any judicial proceeding with respect to any right or liability that may have been under the provisions of this chapter during its operative period. Commencing on January 1, 1985 and continuing through December 1, 1985, rental units then still subject to regulation on that date shall be decontrolled as of the last day of the month which is the anniversary month of the tenant’s initial occupancy of the rental unit. Such decontrol shall not be effective unless the landlord shall have given the tenant 30 days’ prior written notice of such decontrol, which notice specifically references this section.
B. The regional planning department shall monitor the overall vacancy rate for rental units within the unincorporated areas of the county and shall file with the clerk of the board on a quarterly basis a report stating what the overall vacancy rate was. The provisions of this chapter shall cease to be in effect immediately upon the filing of a report pursuant to this subsection B which reflects an overall vacancy rate of five percent or more; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall be considered as still remaining in full force and effect thereafter for the purpose of maintaining or defending any judicial proceeding with respect to any right or liability that may have arisen under the provisions of this chapter during its operative period. (Ord. 83-0089 § 8, 1983: Ord. 83-0084 § 3, 1983: Ord. 12346 § 7, 1981; Ord. 12231 § 2, 1980; Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 9, 1979.)

A. Any person who demands, accepts or retains any payment of rent in excess of the maximum rent permitted by this chapter shall be liable in a civil action to the person from whom such payment is demanded, accepted or retained for damages of three times the amount by which the payment or payments demanded, accepted or retained exceed the maximum rent which could be lawfully demanded, accepted or retained together with reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as determined by the court.
B. A tenant may refuse to pay any rent in excess of the maximum rent permitted by this chapter. The fact that such rent is in excess of maximum rent shall be a defense in any action brought to recover possession of a rental unit or to collect the illegal rent. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 11, 1979.)

Any person violating any of the provisions, or failing to comply with any of the requirements, of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both. Each violation of any provision of this chapter, and each day during which any such violation is committed, permitted or continued, shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 10, 1979.)

If any provision or clause of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional or to be otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other chapter provisions or clauses or applications thereof which can be implemented without the invalid provision or clause or application, and to this end the provisions and clauses of this chapter are declared to be severable. (Ord. 12148 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 11950 § 12, 1979.)