Renting in Los Angeles: rent control, deposits and getting approved

The flat hunt in LA is less about luck and more about knowing which rules cover which building. Get that right and you'll save money every single year.

The short version

• Zillow put typical asking rent in Los Angeles at about US$2,884 a month in February 2026, up 1.1% on a year earlier [1].
• Older city apartments (generally built on or before 1 October 1978) fall under LA's Rent Stabilization Ordinance, with a 3% cap on annual increases from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 [2][3].
• Many newer buildings fall under California's statewide cap instead: 5% plus inflation, never more than 10% a year [4].
• Since 1 July 2024, most California landlords can't ask for a security deposit bigger than one month's rent [5].
• From 1 January 2026, landlords must provide and maintain a working fridge and stove [2].

Which rules cover your flat?

This is the question to ask before you fall in love with a balcony. LA has three layers of rent rules, and the one that applies depends mostly on how old the building is and who owns it.

A couple of things trip up newcomers.

• City vs county. "LA" on a listing might mean Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Pasadena or Culver City, which are separate cities with their own rules. The RSO only applies inside the City of Los Angeles.
• New tenants reset the clock. When a unit turns over, the landlord can usually set the starting rent [4]. The caps protect you from the second year onwards.
• The stronger rule wins. Where a local ordinance is more protective than the state law, the local rule applies [4].

LAHD's RSO formula is now 90% of average inflation, with a floor of 1% and a ceiling of 4% [2]. If a landlord tries to add a percentage for electricity or gas on an RSO unit, that ended on 2 February 2026 [3].

What it costs to move in

The deposit

California's AB 12 caps security deposits at one month's rent for most landlords, effective 1 July 2024 [5]. There's a narrow exemption for small landlords who own no more than two properties with four units in total [5]. That's a big improvement on the old two-month norm, but you'll still usually hand over the first month's rent plus the deposit before you get the keys.

Application fees

Landlords can charge a screening fee to cover credit and background checks. The California law sets a base cap that landlords may adjust each year for inflation [6]. The base amount in the statute is US$47.72 per applicant [6], and the inflation-adjusted figure is higher, so ask what the fee covers before you pay. If you're applying for five flats on one Saturday, those fees add up.

Utilities and extras

In many LA buildings you pay electricity, gas and internet yourself, while water and rubbish may be included. Ask before signing. Parking can be a separate monthly charge, and some older buildings have none at all. Renters insurance is often required in the lease; it's cheap compared with Australian contents insurance but still a line in your budget.

Getting approved without a US credit score

This is the real hurdle for Aussies. US landlords lean heavily on credit reports, and you arrive with none. Your Australian credit file doesn't transfer.

Here's how most newcomers get over the line:

1. Get your Social Security number moving. Apply as soon as you're eligible, because many applications ask for it [8]. You can work while you wait, but some landlords won't process without one.
2. Lead with your job. An employment letter on company letterhead showing your salary and start date carries a lot of weight.
3. Show savings. Recent bank statements, including Australian ones, show you can cover rent while you build a US history.
4. Don't try to buy your way in with extra months up front. With the deposit cap in place, be wary of any landlord asking for a big lump sum beyond the first month and one month's deposit [5].
5. Use a guarantor or a corporate let. A co-signer with US credit, a guarantor service or employer-arranged relocation housing for the first months all give you time.
6. Start building credit now. A secured card or a starter card helps. Our guide to building a US credit history from scratch explains the options.

Your rights once you're in

LA's protections are among the strongest in the US, and they apply to Australians the same as anyone else.

• Notice of increases. Rises under 10% need 30 days' written notice [2], and rises over 10% need 90 days [7].
• Fridge and stove. Under AB 628, from 1 January 2026 your landlord must provide and maintain both, and has at least 30 days to fix them once notified [2]. In older LA rentals you used to bring your own fridge, so double-check what's included.
• Eviction for unpaid rent. In the City of LA, a landlord can only evict for non-payment if the amount owed exceeds the HUD Fair Market Rent for that unit size [2].
• Right to counsel. Since 20 August 2025, landlords must hand tenants a Notice of Right to Counsel at the start of a tenancy, and free legal help may be available through Stay Housed LA if you face eviction [2].
• Harassment. LA's Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance applies to all residential units in the city, and covers things like withholding repairs or refusing to accept rent [2].
• Relocation money. If your landlord ends an RSO tenancy for a no-fault reason, such as moving family in, relocation payments are required [3].

Where to look and what to watch for

Most listings are online, and decent places go fast. Driving around and looking for "For Rent" signs still works in older neighbourhoods like Koreatown, Silver Lake and Mid-Wilshire, where small buildings are often RSO-covered.

A few red flags:

• Pay-before-you-see. Never send money for a flat you haven't inspected, and be wary of anyone who claims to be overseas.
• No written lease. Get everything in writing, including what's included and the parking situation.
• Vague building age. If you care about rent control, look up whether the unit is subject to the RSO on LAHD's website before you sign [3].
• Move-in inspection. Photograph every scuff on day one. It's your best defence when the deposit comes back.

Short on time? Many Aussies sign a furnished three-month let first, then use those months to learn the city and find a long-term place in the area they actually like.

Ask people who've done it

Rental leads and building tips travel fast in Cooee USA, our Facebook group for Australians in the USA. Ask which buildings in your target suburb have been good to tenants. If you're still deciding where to live, our moving to Los Angeles guide runs through the main neighbourhoods.

Sources

1. February 2026 rent report – Zillow Research
2. Renter protections – Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD)
3. RSO overview – Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD)
4. Limits on rent increases – California Attorney General
5. California to limit security deposits to one month's rent under new law – CBS News Sacramento
6. State permitted application screening fees – City of West Hollywood
7. What's new for LA renters in 2026 – SAJE
8. Foreign workers and Social Security numbers – Social Security Administration

Keep reading

• Moving to Los Angeles from Australia: the complete guide
• Cost of living in Los Angeles vs Sydney and Melbourne
• Building a US credit history from scratch
• Keeping your Australian bank, number and accounts while abroad