Landlords can now raise rent on tenants who house friends at risk of homelessness

Gov. Gavin Newsom still hasn’t signed the statewide rent control bill, but there’s one piece of housing legislation that has gotten his approval. It would both seek to incrementally address Los Angeles and the rest of the state’s growing homeless problem while also boosting landlord income.

On Thursday, the governor made law a measure that would let tenants provide temporary housing for friends or family who are at risk of homelessness, while also letting landlords raise the rent on those units. Assembly Bill 1188 was one of a flurry of measures aimed at addressing the region’s homeless crisis.

The bill does not specify how much rent can be raised, just that it “shall be consistent with any applicable rent stabilization law or regulation.” It will not apply to any federally-funded low-income housing.

AB 1188 was touted as a solution to limit the number of California residents who slip into homelessness. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and California Apartment Association were among its supporters.

Under the bill, landlords and existing tenants will also be allowed to evict the at-risk person on short notice.

In addition to AB 1188, Newsom also signed bills easing some of the regulatory restrictions on building homeless shelters. He still has not signed the state’s rent control bill, AB 1482. The measure, which he is expected to sign, limits landlords to annual rent increases of up to 5 percent plus inflation and imposes stricter limits on evictions.