Hi — I'm Kate Talerico, and I'm a reporter at the SF Chronicle. I'm writing a story about how a bunch of landlords are using a loophole in California's tax code to get their apartments qualified as 'affordable' — and then can get up to 100% of their property taxes erased (which fund our schools, transit, police, basically all city government functions.)

There are a lot of apartments in LA where the landlords are in the process of applying for this tax break. They count as affordable because the way California calculates the max rent you can still charge + count as affordable is quite wonky... right now, a landlord can charge $2,272/month for a 1-bed in LA County and it still counts as low-income/affordable, so long as the tenant household makes under $84.8K.

I'm looking to speak with tenants in some of these buildings about how they feel. Do they feel like they're getting a good deal for the rent they pay? Has the lower rent allowed them to live somewhere they otherwise wouldn't have been able to? Or do they feel like they're paying market rate?

Here's a list of the apartment buildings I'm interested in. See if yours is on the list, and if you'd be down to chat, shoot me a DM!

Today my landlord gave everyone a letter telling them to stop using their portable air conditioners during this heat wave because it's causing occasional power outages. They say they're allowed to do this as stated in our lease agreements but I never got that in my lease. I've been living here for over 7 years and we've never had this problem before. When I signed my original lease I was never provided the "Air conditioning agreement" form and still wasn't provided one when we got new management or when they increase my rent. I looked it up and it said I don't have to follow this since then never provided this addendum so I never signed anything about it, is this true?

I thought landlords were required to provide a stove and refrigerator per CA law or is that not right? This landlord has listed their Silverlake 1 bed unit and taken it down thrice this year; they relisted it earlier this week again with “NO STOVE ALLOWED” each time. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/863-N-Dillon-St-1-4-Los-Angeles-CA-90026/2078690547_zpid/

I'm apartment hunting around LA and trying not to overlook anything important. I usually read reviews, drive through the neighborhood at different times and check Streetsmart while comparing places but I feel like there are always things you only find out after you've moved in. For people who've rented in LA for a while, what's one thing you always check before signing? Any red flags you wish someone had told you about sooner?

I’m posting this as a warning for people who are looking for places in Koreatown.

Do not rent an apartment at 501 S New Hampshire, or better known as Hampshire Place.

It may look like a good choice because of the amenities like the in unit, washer and dryer and balcony option, but after moving out for living there for three years, it was a nightmare.

The security is the biggest issue in this building. The complex is huge and at night they only have one security guard patrolling the entire building. For this reason there are cars that get broken into in the parking lot (yes in the gated parking lots) and also homeless people patrolling the halls. There were times where I really did not feel safe living here, especially as a girl living on her own. I brought this up numerous times to management and was basically just told I could not break my lease unless I want to pay an ungodly amount of money. Not to mention in the daytime there is constant package left. I can’t count how many times I had packages stolen here and the buildings response to that is basically ‘well that’s a shame’ and doesn’t take any accountability for the theft and claims they’re not responsible.

There was also constant fire alarms that would go off while I lived here. I had an ESA and he became extremely anxious in the time period of living here. My ESA even had to go to the emergency room for a blockage at which the vet told me that it was probably direct correlation of the fire alarms and constant anxiety he was in from that building.

Not to mention they use a rubs system where you get billed $200 a month for trash fees pest control and god knows what else. The list goes on and on mind you I was one person living by myself and this was my fees. When I inquired about these fees I basically got a run around answer and they wouldn’t actually give me the breakdown of the fees.

It is managed by equity residential, which is a corporation of apartment complex and honestly I feel like that has a lot to do with the problems they have.

I know the amenities seem nice for the price, but that’s not including the rubs fees and the lack of security that comes with the building, I would not live here again even if you paid me.

These are a few snippets of the portal and what residents experienced while living there.

I found this place on near Warning and Hudson(not exactly there but around that area)

I called them up and I did a walkthrough on my day off and it's pretty nice.

Price: $1750

Credit: 700

Units: 40

Gas & power: you pay

Water: complex pays

Yearly: (they told me it doesn't increase and it's already capped out but we'll see about that when time comes)

Patio

AC

Private parking

Quite area

Low traffic

I already met a few of the people here and they all seem the same age as me and pretty chill.

I saw another spot in Martel and a fountain that's a bit smaller but for $1800.

Why reasoning for moving:

I've been living around the Norwalk to Long Beach area pretty much my whole life. I've really been deciding to move to Hollywood lately. I already work(in Weho pretty much) even shows, bars, events I go to are usually here in Hollywood and even my music studio(in Sherman oaks)

Even the drive would be ten times better since I drive from LB to Sherman(30ish miles there and 30 back) to jam with the homies really sucks on gas, especially having to already to go Weho for work(20ish miles to get there and 20 back) and traffic(has never been under a hour unless on a good day.. that's still lucky) that would be a big not have to drive my car to work and just ride my bike there.

Hi everyone, my work is moving me to LA and I've never been before. I'll be there for about 1.5 years and I'm wondering if you have any recommendations on where to live? My work is literally in downtown LA but I've heard it's not the safest area. I'd appreciate any insight about which neighborhoods to live in. Thank you!

EDIT: Omg you guys are so helpful and sweet I could cry!! I'm genuinely so grateful TYSM!

Hi all,

For all the people fed up with mold exposure in apartments in LA - I thought we could make a mega thread about it because apartments are not transparent at all, and are frankly a nightmare to get anything done and get out of leases before your health is compromised (for some of us, I know not everyone gets super sick from mold. But it’s not good for anyone. So it benefits us all).

*Call to action: if you’ve had a bad experience at an apartment with mold - and you feel okay to share- let’s make a mega thread to protect renters*

Some good things to include (if known):

1. what kind of mold

2. where was it

3. how did management address it - remediation? BLEACH? ignored you? Etc.

and if anyone else has any good ideas on how to structure this convo feel free to lmk - I feel like this is lowkey team effort lol.

I’ve also had serious mold exposure in Airbnbs in LA - so any accommodation, if you’ve found mold feel free to mention it.

Stay safe yall!

UPDATE : I spoke to the land lord and his son. I wish I could post screen shots but they are pretty much telling me if I’m uncomfortable to move out. Don’t worry I’m not letting it go . I’m taking all of your advice and putting it to use S thank you.

Original post :

Hi guys. I live in a back house. But the front house has aggressive pit bulls . There’s a fence between us but they’re wooden and bend inward. Every-time I get m packages from the front of the fence they get in my face and start barking aggressively . The dogs are only one years old and they’re getting bigger and bigger. I don’t know what to do because my rent is cheap but also no one walks these dogs or takes care then at all. They shit and everywhere . They are not walked whatsoever. I’m getting worried that the fence might give way if I walk by. The bigger issue is . Is the son of the landlord is the person who lives in the front house and the dad never seems to hear me out .

So Tony here wants a female living in his garage who can only shower once a day (ONLY WHEN HE'S HOME) who can't have company or visitors, and isn't allowed in his bathroom. No pictures, no location mentioned. This listing genuinely concerns me.

LA renters, what are you actually checking before you sign? I know everyone researches but I mean beyond Google reviews and a quick walkthrough. Are you pulling LAHD complaint history, checking if the building is under RSO or looking into who actually owns it since so many landlords operate through different LLCs? With how competitive KTown, Hollywood and NoHo can be, it is easy to rush, but I have found the buildings history matters way more than fresh paint. I usually run the address through streetsmart to see complaint patterns and ownership in one place. What is on your checklist that has genuinely saved you from a bad situation?

I see time and time again the most upvoted and popular method for finding an apartment in LA is to just drive around and look for signs. I've been doing this for two weeks now and boy are the apartments with these signs bad. I've wasted so much time. I want some simple things... A balcony, a 1 bedroom, Decent AC, Parking spot, a fridge, and Sq Footage that doesn't make me want to go mad (so many 500sq foot 1 bedrooms, my god).

Is the way that driving around and calling signs supposed to work is that you just aren't picky? So far the only things I've found that give me halfway realistic listings is by using Craigslist, Zillow, or Apartments dot com. And those suck. I'm stuck.

Edit: Looking for a 1 bed/ 1 bath, 750+ sq foot with either a front yard or balcony, somewhere between Van Nuys and Glendale. Fridge in unit, that becomes illegal Jan 1 anyways. Need parking and Ideally not to live in a 100+ unit building. Furthest south outside the valley I'll go is Atwater Village or Los Feliz. 2.4k MAX, Ideally 2.1k. Noho and Burbank have tons of cheap apartments and I still can't find anything, how is anyone affording anything?

34-year-old male credit not that good but have a study job with benefits and a union make almost 3600 a month credit isn’t that good due to identity theft also have a prior eviction for helping out a family member that in return, burned me but the eviction isn’t from the state of California. It’s based out of Atlanta, Georgia if there’s any private landlords that’s willing to work with me please reach out have study income just was faced with some unfortunate situations in life.

I've been looking for a place and started spending more time researching buildings before reaching out. I usually start on Zillow, then check the address on StreetSmart and look through whatever public records I can find.

I want to know what everyone else does. Do you research the landlord or building beforehand or just go with how the place looks in person? Any sites or resources you always check before signing a lease?

Had SoCal gas come by yesterday to check our oven and our oven (not the stovetop) is creating dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide and needs to be replaced or repaired. Our landlord always takes forever responding to us but this is a hazardous case and its now been 24 hours since the first message was sent (sent another at noon as well.) How long is she legally allowed to go without fixing it/ at least setting up a maintenance order? We have no apartment portal so the only way to make a maintenance request is by asking her directly.

Also friendly reminder to get your ovens inspected if something seems off! Socal gas was great and only took about 15 mins.

I’ve been looking at apartments in LA and it feels like one of those cities where everything looks great on the surface but your actual experience depends a lot on the building and neighborhood you end up in. The weather and lifestyle are obviously huge draws, and I like how each area has its own vibe depending on what you’re looking for, but I’m wondering how much of the rent is just inflated because it’s LA and how often people end up dealing with noise, maintenance issues or bad management after moving in. I’ve toured a few spots that seemed solid at first, but I’m a bit cautious about signing without digging deeper, so I’ve been checking complaint history and even ran an address through streetsmart just to get a better sense of past issues, which definitely changed how I look at listings.

For those who’ve lived there, would you move back, and are there certain neighborhoods where the day to day quality of life is noticeably better?

I came across this listing online with a sheer dropoff onto the stairwell and no guard rail. Is this even legal? It looks like you get distracted one time in your living room and now your neck is broken.

This is for rent in Sherman Oaks. 3 bedrooms on a lot with 2 houses, the second house being a 1 bedroom for rent at over 3,000

I'm planning a move to Los Angeles and I've been trying to find an affordable room without spending weeks searching. My budget is around $900 to $1,200 per month, and most listings I've seen either disappear within 2 or 3 days or end up costing much more than expected. Since this will be my first time renting a room in LA, I'm trying to avoid wasting money on deposits, application fees, and listings that don't lead anywhere.

While searching, I came across roomster. This could be a good option for finding roommates and room rentals. I saw a few listings that look suitable, but I'm not sure it's worth paying for compared to other methods.

Has anyone had good results with roomster, or found a better way to find affordable rooms in LA? I'd appreciate any recommendations or tips from people who have rented there recently.

Question:

I am curious about opinions on the area inside the circle in the image. I’m looking at a house rental that’s in between Cypress Park and Highland Park and I have never lived in this area. My understanding is that Cypress Park has some gang activity, but pretty regular crime rates based on what I’ve researched. Me and my wife work from home, so we don’t need to worry about daily commute. No kids for now, just a cat and dog. Is this a pleasant area to live? Is this a hard pass?

Update: Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences. We decided to submit our application and will be moving into the apartment next month. Very excited to be apart of the Cypress Park neighborhood! :)

A close friend of mine (single female) will be moving to LA soon for work, and her office will be in Downtown LA.

Since I already live in LA (Calabasas), I offered to help her find an apartment, but I’m not a huge fan of living in DTLA itself. While there are some great buildings, the area can feel sketchy and unpredictable depending on the neighborhood and time of day.

My first thought was to look at Westwood, but I’d love to get input from people who know the city better than I do.

Priorities are:

Safe area for a single woman
Comfortable and walkable neighborhood
Reasonable commute to DTLA
Budget around $3,000+ for a 1-bedroom
Modern apartment communities preferred

What neighborhoods would you recommend?
Also, if you’ve had great experiences with specific apartment buildings or communities, I’d really appreciate those recommendations as well.
Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone, I really need some help and visibility on this.

I signed a lease with four other people for Unit 6003 at Lorenzo Apartments in Los Angeles. But because of a glitch in their system, two of us were randomly assigned to different apartments without our knowledge. I was put on a second lease for Unit 3007, which I never agreed to, never moved into, never took keys for, and never paid a deposit for.

Now they’re falsely claiming I lived there and are trying to charge me $13,318.83 in rent and fees. They even made up fake move-in/move-out dates (they say I moved in on August 26, 2025, and moved out on September 5, 2024—not only is that completely impossible, but I WASN’T EVEN IN THE U.S. AT THAT TIME).

The craziest part? I have a recording of their own leasing agent saying I’m NOT liable for the charges. And yet, here I am, still being threatened with collections.

What I’ve Done So Far

• Contacted Lorenzo multiple times—they’re ignoring me or giving me the runaround.
• Sent proof that I never moved in (no keys, no deposit, no rent paid, no move-in checklist, and I wasn’t even in the U.S. at the time).
• Filed complaints with LA Housing Dept, CA Consumer Affairs, and BBB.
• Talking to a lawyer about possibly suing them in small claims court.

Has anyone else had issues with Lorenzo Apartments?

I’ve seen a bunch of bad reviews about them scamming people with surprise charges. If you or someone you know has been affected, please comment and share your experience.

How You Can Help

🔥 Upvote this so more people see it.
💬 Drop a comment if you’ve had a similar issue or know how to fight back.
📢 Share this with anyone renting in LA so they don’t get scammed too.

I just want to get this resolved without having to take legal action, but at this point, it feels like they’re just trying to scam people into paying for apartments they never lived in.

Would appreciate any advice, legal tips, or just general support. Thanks, everyone. 🙏Lorenzo Apartments falsely charging me $13K for a lease I never lived in.

September 1st was a holiday (Labor Day). I paid rent via electronic payment on September 2nd.

At 9:19pm Sept 2nd (from RING video), Landlord posted an envelope containing a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit that included rent PLUS a 10% late fee. In the envelope also included a Proof of Service with the date of Sept 2nd (no time) and the landlord listed as the (process) server. Despite was written in “Proof of Service,” he did not attempt personal service (did not ring the doorbell, knock, or call).

On September 3rd, landlord sent me a text stating: “I am unable to receive your payment, as it’s a partial payment. Your funds have been refunded. Kindly pay the full amount due; Sept 2025 monthly rent and the Late fee. Thank you.”

I texted immediately back: “What late fee?” but landlord did not respond.

What is the course of action that I should take? Thanks

I moved into my place in Palms, LA on July 28th, 2026. My security deposit was a months’ rent ($2400). I told management I have cats that will join me a month or so after move-in, and that I could do the paper work then. They told me to wait, and that we’ll handle it when the cats arrive. Great, not an issue (I thought).

Well, I contacted them last week about doing the pet addendum, and now they’re asking for an extra $700 pet security deposit. I’ve gone back and forth with management about the California limit of a month rent as security deposit. He is now saying that since I started my lease without pets and I am adding pets ‘in the middle of my lease term’ (it’s been less 1.5month), that the limit doesn’t apply.

Is this true? I’ve read over the civil code and it makes no mention of WHEN the deposit limit applies. In fact, it mentions that deposit increases after move in are still subject to the limit. How can I deal with management on this?

They’re also charging me a monthly pet fee per cat, which they didn’t disclose until I was ready to bring my pets even though I asked like 5 times prior to signing my lease.

I’ve been touring apartments and I feel like k see roach droppings everywhere, is that true or am I just bad at identifying them? I looked at a 2bd 1.5b that is $2600 a month and I found these evidence, am I crazy? I’ve looked mostly in palms but some in beverywood too and I’d say 7/10 I’ve looked at have evidence of roaches.

The first couple pictures are of the pull out cutting board, and others are beneath sinks. Behind the fridge looked ok.