Los Angeles Tenant Harassment Attorneys

Protecting Tenants in Los Angeles from Landlord Harassment

At Riley Ersoff, we are passionate about protecting the rights of tenants and renters in Los Angeles. Our attorneys exclusively represent tenants — never landlords or property management companies. If you’re a renter facing harassment or abuse from your landlord, property owner, or property management company, you can turn to us, so you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Our experienced tenant rights attorneys help renters fight back using local ordinances like the Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) and other important legal protections. We know how to hold landlords accountable for misconduct and help our clients secure both compensation when applicable and peace of mind by stopping future harassment. Our efforts on behalf of tenants and others have resulted in settlements and verdicts in excess of $150,000,000!

Call (888) 658-9695 now or contact our Los Angeles tenant harassment lawyers online now to learn more.

What Is Tenant Harassment?

Under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 45.33, tenant harassment refers to a landlord's bad faith conduct that harms a tenant including pressuring a tenant to vacate their apartment or waive their rights. Bad faith conduct includes any conduct by a landlord that is willful, reckless, or grossly negligent.

Examples of prohibited landlord harassment include:

• Cutting off essential services (e.g., water, electricity, gas, parking)
• Deliberately delaying necessary repairs
• Entering your unit without proper 24-hour written notice
• Intimidation, threats, or verbal abuse
• Filing false or frivolous eviction notices
• Offering “cash for keys” without required disclosures
• Retaliating against tenants for asserting their rights or forming tenant associations

Tenant harassment tactics are not just unethical, they are unlawful. Thanks to L.A.’s tenant protections, there are avenues tenants and renters can take to try to make things right after being harassed by a landlord. 

Your Rights Under the Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance

The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) was enacted in 2021 and significantly expanded in December 2024. It offers tenants some of, if not the strongest tenant protections in the country – protections you should know about as a tenant in Los Angeles. 

Important TAHO provisions include:

• Applies to all residential units: Whether or not your apartment is rent-controlled, TAHO protections apply to you if you live in the City of Los Angeles.
• Broad definition of harassment: Harassment bad faith conduct, actions, threats, or omissions that interfere with your quiet enjoyment, safety, or housing stability.
• Right to sue for damages: Tenants can file a civil lawsuit and seek actual damages, emotional distress damages, statutory damages (up to $10,000 per violation), court costs, and more. A tenant who prevails in a TAHO action against their landlord is entitled to three times their actual damages.
• Affirmative defense in eviction cases: If you're facing eviction due to landlord harassment, the ordinance allows you to assert harassment as a defense in court.
• Criminal and administrative enforcement: Landlords who violate the ordinance can face misdemeanor charges, penalties imposed by the City of Los Angeles, investigations, and corrective orders through the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD).

Common Forms of Tenant Harassment We See All the Time

Our firm represents tenants who have experienced a wide range of harassment, including:

• Refusing to fix broken plumbing, appliances, or heating/cooling systems
• Frequent or unauthorized entries into your unit
• Threatening calls, texts, or in-person intimidation
• Harassment after asking for repairs or rent reductions
• Pressuring you to take “cash for keys” and vacate without legal disclosures
• Shutting off utilities or locking tenants out
• False accusations of lease violations or illegal activities

If any of these situations sound familiar, you may have a valid harassment claim under Los Angeles law. Explore your rights with the help of our tenant harassment attorneys. Start by dialing (888) 658-9695.

Our Approach to Tenant Harassment Cases

At Riley Ersoff, our attorneys have a long history of handling tenant harassment cases and other forms of legal action against landlords and property owners. Our legal team has extensive experience navigating Los Angeles’ tenant protection laws to the benefit of our clients, and we always tailor our approach to the specific facts of each case.

We can help tenants:

• File civil lawsuits under TAHO
• Defend against retaliatory eviction actions
• Secure repairs, services, and compensation
• Work with the LAHD complaint process
• Stop ongoing landlord misconduct

Why Tenants Choose Riley Ersoff First

• Tenant-focused practice: We never represent landlords or property managers.
• Legal knowledge: We understand the ins and outs of Los Angeles housing law and how to enforce it better than anyone.
• Personalized attention: You are not just a case file here, you’re a local who deserves safe, stable housing.
• Proven results: We’ve helped countless tenants stand up to harassment and win fair outcomes.
• We value the immigrant community in Los Angeles: Almost everyone at the firm speaks Spanish. We support the immigrant community in Los Angeles and fight on their behalf.

We are proud to represent tenants across Los Angeles, from South L.A. and Koreatown to East L.A. and beyond. If you’ve been harassed or abused by your landlord, talk to us. We’re ready to help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tenant Harassment

• I don’t live in a rent-controlled building. Am I still protected?
  Yes. The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance applies to all residential units in the City of Los Angeles.
• What counts as landlord harassment?
  Harassment includes bad faith conduct including refusing repairs, entering your home without notice, making threats, cutting off services, and more. If your landlord is making your living situation uncomfortable or unsafe, you may have a case.
• Can I sue my landlord?
  Yes. You can file a civil lawsuit for damages, emotional distress, and legal costs.
• What evidence do I need?
  Photos, written communication, notices, repair requests, and witness statements are all helpful. We can guide you in documenting your case.
• What if I’ve already received an eviction notice?
  Harassment is an affirmative defense in eviction proceedings under Los Angeles law.

Contact Our Los Angeles Tenant Harassment Lawyers Today

If you are being harassed by your landlord in Los Angeles, don’t wait. The law is on your side — and so are we. Call Riley Ersoff today for a free, confidential case evaluation. Let us help you protect your rights, restore your housing security, and hold abusive landlords accountable.

We’re always standing by to help L.A. tenants. Call (888) 658-9695 now.

Los Angeles Tenant Resources

• Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) Anti-Harassment Page: housing.lacity.gov/residents/tenant-anti-harassment
• LAHD Tenant Hotline: 1‑866‑557‑7368