New Rental Laws Every LA & OC Landlord Should Know in 2025

AB 1482 rent caps, SB 567 just-cause changes, 10‑day eviction response, LA cooling requirements, and security‑deposit interest—your 2025 compliance checklist.

Why this matters now

If you manage rentals in Los Angeles or Orange County, 2025 brings several high‑impact compliance changes that affect how much you can raise rent, how you process evictions, and even how cool units must be during heat waves. Aligning leases, notices, and building operations to the new rules will prevent costly disputes and protect cash flow.

The big legal shifts at a glance

• Statewide rent cap remains: Under AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act), most covered units are limited to 5% + CPI, capped at 10% in any 12‑month period. Local rules may be stricter—always check the city/county overlay before issuing increases.

• Just‑cause tightened: SB 567 reinforced documentation for owner move‑ins and substantial remodel evictions—expect to provide permits, timelines, and re‑occupancy notices if work doesn’t proceed.

• Eviction timeline lengthened: Tenants now have 10 business days (up from 5) to respond to an unlawful detainer (AB 2347, effective Jan 1, 2025). This extends your recovery timeline—plan reserves accordingly.

• LA cooling requirements: Los Angeles County adopted a thermal safety standard that will require landlords to maintain indoor temps ≤ 82°F on a defined schedule (deadline varies by portfolio size). Start scoping HVAC and passive cooling upgrades now.

• Security‑deposit interest (LA RSO): If your building is under Los Angeles’ RSO, ensure you’re paying annual or monthly interest on security deposits and notifying tenants of the method—non‑compliance is now commonly used as a defense in eviction cases.

  
  

Impactful insights for your portfolio

• Revenue planning: With AB 1482 capping increases and LA often layering stricter rules, model your unit‑by‑unit NOI under a conservative rent growth path and push value via expense control and turnover readiness—not rent alone.

• Eviction cashflow buffer: The expanded 10‑day response period can add 2–4+ weeks when you include filing, service, and court scheduling. Maintain a vacancy & delinquency reserve and accelerate pre‑filing resolution steps.

• Heat compliance as a retention tool: Early investments in insulation, shading, sealing, and efficient HVAC reduce peak load and tenant churn during heat waves—often cheaper than emergency fixes (and good marketing).

  
  

Fast compliance checklist (save this)

1. Update rent‑increase calculators for AB 1482 + local overlays.

2. Refresh just‑cause templates (owner move‑in/substantial remodel) with permit attachments + re‑occupancy language.

3. Adjust unlawful detainer timelines and internal SLAs to reflect 10 business days.

4. Audit LA RSO buildings for security‑deposit interest payments and notices.

5. Begin a cooling compliance audit (load calcs, envelope, AC tonnage, passive measures).

   
   

   Note: State rules are baseline; LA/OC cities can be stricter. Always verify the local ordinance before you act.

Sources:

1. California Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights Guide (CA DRE)

2. Rent Stabilization At-A-Glance (AB 1482 & SB 567) – Association of Bay Area Governments

3. Assembly Bill 1482 – Statewide Rent Cap Details (Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency)

4. New Law Doubles Tenant Response Time for Evictions (Western Center on Law & Poverty)

5. Los Angeles Cooling Ordinance for Extreme Heat (RAND Corporation)

6. City of Los Angeles: Security Deposit Interest Requirement (Apartment Association of Greater LA)