West Hollywood : 2.5% Rent Hikes Permitted

West Hollywood landlords can raise their rents by a maximum of 2.5% this year under new guidelines approved unanimously last week by the city’s Rent Stabilization Commission.

Last July, after the City Council approved its rent control law, landlords were allowed to take a 3% rent increase. This year’s 2.5% increase will become effective Sept. 1.

According to Richard Dorsey Muller, acting director of the city’s Rent Stabilization Department, the 2.5% increase is equivalent to 75% of the change in the consumer price index. That formula, dictated by the rent law, is used by the city each year to determine rent increases.

In addition to the 2.5% increase, landlords who provide free gas or electricity will be allowed to take an additional 0.5% rent increase for each utility, Muller said.