Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 5.6 Prohibition Against Discrimination Based on Student Status

(Article Added by Ord. No. 156,426, Eff. 4/12/82.)

Section

After public hearing receipt of testimony, the City Council finds and declares:

That discrimination against tenants on the basis of their status as students exists in the City of Los Angeles;

That there is a shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the City of Los Angeles;

That students, who generally do not have the economic resources to buy homes, must often lie in close proximity to their campus so they can commute between their school, their home and their job; however, because of discrimination on the basis of their status as student, these students are forced to live further from campus than would otherwise be necessary;

That such discrimination cuts across all racial, ethnic and economic lines;

That because housing is a fundamental necessity of life, it is against the public policy of the City of Los Angeles to discriminate in rental housing upon the basis of a tenant’s status as a student.

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this article, shall be construed as defined in this section. Words and phrases not defined herein shall be construed as defined in Section 12.03 of this Code, if defined therein. A. Housing Services: Services connected with the use or occupancy of a rental unit including but not limited to, utilities (including light, heat, water and telephone), ordinary repairs or replacement, and maintenance, including painting. This term shall also include the provision of elevator service, laundry facilities and privileges, common recreational facilities, janitor service, resident manager, refuse removal, furnishings, food service, parking and any other benefits, privileges or facilities.

B. Landlord: An owner, lessor, or sublessor, (including any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity) who receives or is entitled to receive rent for the use of any rental unit, or the agent, representative or successor of any of the foregoing.

C. Rent: The consideration, including any bonus, benefits or gratuity, demanded or received by a landlord for or in connection with the use or occupancy of a rental unit, including but not limited to monies demanded or paid for the following: meals where required by the landlord as a condition of the tenancy; parking; furnishings; other housing services of any kind; subletting; or security deposits.

D. Rental Units: All dwelling units, efficiency dwelling units, guest rooms, and suites in the City of Los Angeles, as defined in Section 12.03 of this Code, rented or offered for rent for living or dwelling purposes, the land and buildings appurtenant thereto, and all housing services, privileges, furnishings and facilities supplied in connection with the use or occupancy thereof, including garage and parking facilities. This term shall also include mobile homes, whether rent is paid for the mobile homes and the land upon which the mobile home is located, or rent is paid for the land alone. The term shall not include:

1. Housing accommodations in any hospital; state licensed community care facility; convent; monastery; extended medical care facility; asylum; fraternity or sorority house; or housing accommodations

owned, operated, leased or managed primarily for occupancy by its students by an institution of higher education, a vocational school, a high school, or an elementary school.

2. Housing accommodations designed and operated exclusively for senior citizens or retirees, and their spouses, or retirement homes.

3. Housing accommodations which are reserved exclusively for either single or married students or for students with minor dependents who live with them.

4. Housing accommodations which a government unit, agency or authority owns, operates, or manages, or which are specifically exempted from municipal regulation by state or federal law or

administrative regulation.

E. Student: Any person enrolled in an institution of higher education, vocational school, high school, or elementary school.

A landlord shall not do or attempt to do any of the following:

A. Refuse to rent or lease a rental unit, refuse to negotiate for the rental or lease of a rental unit, evict from a rental unit, or otherwise deny to or withhold a rental unit from any person on the basis of the person’s status as a student.

B. Rent or lease a rental unit on less favorable terms, conditions or privileges, or discriminate in the provision of housing services to any person on the basis of the person’s status as a student.

C. Represent to any person that a rental unit is not available for inspection, rental or lease when such rental unit is, in fact, available on the basis of the person’s status as a student.

D. Make, print, publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, sign, advertisement, application, or contract with regard to a rental unit that indicates any preference, limitation, or

discrimination with respect to a person’s status as a student.

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to authorize any landlord to discriminate against any person on the basis of the fact that the person is not a student.

A. Any landlord who violates the provisions of this article shall be subject to injunctive relief and shall be liable for actual damages, if any, with regard to each and every such violation and such additional amount as may be determined by a jury, or the court sitting without a jury, up to three times the amount of actual damages or three times an amount equal to one month’s rent of the rental unit involved, whichever is greater, as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

B. Violations of any of the provisions of this article shall not constitute a misdemeanor or infraction.