In 2021, KLAH led a campaign to pass a Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance in LA City. In 2024, we passed an updated and strengthened TAHO.
to the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance
Changes we won
The Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) was passed in 2021, to address the widespread issue of tenants facing egregious harassment from their landlords. However, between 2021 and 2024 tenants filed over 13,000 complaints with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), but not one landlord paid a fine or was criminally prosecuted for tenant harassment.
In 2024, Los Angeles tenants organized to pass updates to TAHO, to work towards a city where everyone can live peacefully in their home free from harassment.
The 2024 updated TAHO ordinance…
Broadened the definition of harassment,
Mandated attorneys fees for successful legal cases,
Created a 3 year statute of limitations, and
Increased penalties for TAHO violations.
this change happened
because tenants stood up and shared their stories
Tenants in LA City shared personal experiences of landlord harassment, made clear exactly what needed to change in order for TAHO to function as intended, and pushed city officials to listen to their demands. They recognized the status quo of landlords abusing their power over tenants, and worked tirelessly to address that power imbalance.
Read about the TAHO campaign in the press
LAist:
"LA tried to stop landlords from harassing tenants. Now it’s planning to ramp up enforcement"“Tenant advocates say they often see cases of landlords harassing long-term tenants into leaving rent-stabilized apartments, with the apparent goal of bringing in higher-paying tenants. Under the city’s rent control rules, landlords can charge whatever the market will bear on vacant units, but they can only increase rents on existing tenants by a set percentage each year.
“Harassment has always existed,” said Edna Monroy, director of the tenant rights protection team at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. “[The pandemic] further aggravated it, because unfortunately, a lot of tenants were not able to pay their rent due to COVID-19.””
The LA Reporter:
"Strengthening laws to protect renters"“The Los Angeles City Council is moving to strengthen a three-year-old city law designed to protect tenants from landlord harassment, after tenant advocates and attorneys complained the law lacks teeth. Attorney Stephano Medina told council members last month that he has tried to use the existing law when representing tenants but found it “unusable.”
The amendments to the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, also known as “TAHO,” will likely increase damages people can sue landlords for in order to deter harassment in the first place, while also making it more sustainable for attorneys to take on cases by requiring that attorney fees be awarded.”
LA Times:
"L.A. City Council adopts stronger tenant harassment ordinance"“The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to adopt an ordinance strengthening the city’s tenant anti-harassment protections and making it easier for tenants to sue landlords who violate the rules.
The tenant anti-harassment ordinance, known as TAHO, was originally passed three years ago in an effort to protect tenants from being threatened or intimidated by landlords. It was greeted as an important victory for renters, but advocates began pushing for changes as it brought in thousands of complaints but resulted in no prosecutions.”
Under the strengthened Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, tenants in the city of LA have protections against harassment from their landlords.
Harassment can include landlords taking away housing services, refusing to make repairs, entering a unit without proper notice, refusing to accept rent, and more.
If you believe you are being harassed by your landlord, visit the official TAHO program website to access resources and learn more.
resources for tenants
