Los Angeles · Renting & eviction

Buyout agreements in Los Angeles

Los Angeles's own rules on buyout agreements, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Los Angeles Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Los Angeles's code says

Los Angeles code What Los Angeles's code adds
Required disclosure	An RSO Disclosure Notice of tenant rights on the Department's form, dated and signed by landlord and tenant(s) Applies: Before making a buyout offer (money or other value to move out of an RSO unit) § 151.31 · code text Before making a Buyout Offer, the landlord shall provide the tenant(s) with the RSO Disclosure Notice of tenant rights on a form authorized by the Department, which shall be dated and signed by the landlord and the tenant(s). Before making a Buyout Offer, the landlord must provide the tenant with the Department-authorized RSO Disclosure Notice of tenant rights, dated and signed by the landlord and tenant Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text Before making a Buyout Offer, the landlord shall provide the tenant(s) with the RSO Disclosure Notice of tenant rights on a form authorized by the Department, which shall be dated and signed by the landlord and the tenant(s).
Filing with the city	Yes; file the signed RSO Disclosure Notice and Buyout Agreement with the Department within 60 days of signing Applies: Buyout agreements to move out of RSO rental units § 151.31 · code text The landlord shall file with the Department copies of the RSO Disclosure Notice signed by the tenant and the landlord, and the Buyout Agreement within 60 days of the Buyout Agreement execution. yes, within 60 days of execution; file copies of the signed RSO Disclosure Notice and Buyout Agreement with the Department Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text The landlord shall file with the Department copies of the RSO Disclosure Notice signed by the tenant and the landlord, and the Buyout Agreement within 60 days of the Buyout Agreement execution.
Required terms	Written in the tenant's primary language Applies: Every written buyout agreement for an RSO rental unit § 151.31 · code text Every Buyout Agreement shall be written in the primary language of the tenant and state in a minimum of 12point bold type above the tenant signature line as follows: A statement that the tenant may cancel within 30 days after everyone signs, with no obligation or penalty Applies: Every RSO buyout agreement; in at least 12-point bold type above the tenant's signature line § 151.31 · code text “You, (tenant name), may cancel this Buyout Agreement any time up to 30 days after all parties have signed this Agreement without any obligation or penalty.” Signed and dated by the landlord and tenant Applies: Every buyout agreement for an RSO rental unit § 151.31 · code text Every Buyout Agreement shall be signed and dated by the landlord and tenant. The tenant gets a copy of the fully signed buyout agreement Applies: Every buyout agreement for an RSO rental unit § 151.31 · code text A copy of the fully executed Buyout Agreement shall be given to the tenant. written in the tenant's primary language Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text Every Buyout Agreement shall be written in the primary language of the tenant and state in a minimum of 12-point bold type above the tenant signature line as follows: minimum 12-point bold cancellation statement above the tenant signature line Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text SEC. 151.31. TENANT BUYOUT NOTIFICATION PROGRAM. (Added by Ord. No. 184,673, Eff. 1/25/17.) A. Purpose. The Tenant Buyout Notification Program provides for regulation, monitoring and enforcement of voluntary vacancies of RSO rental units occurring pursuant to a Buyout Agreement. To promote fairness during buyout negotiations and agreements, this section requires tenants be informed of their RSO rights before executing a Buyout Agreement. 1. The Rent Adjustment Commission may promulgate regulations to implement this section. B. Definitions. The following words and phrases, whenever used in this section, shall be construed as defined in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section shall be construed as defined in Section 151.02 of this Chapter, if defined therein. Buyout Agreement. A written agreement where a landlord pays a tenant money or offers other consideration to voluntarily vacate an RSO rental unit. Buyout Offer. An offer, written or oral, by a landlord to a tenant to pay money or other consideration to vacate an RSO unit. C. RSO Disclosure Notice. Before making a Buyout Offer, the landlord shall provide the tenant(s) with the RSO Disclosure Notice of tenant rights on a form authorized by the Department, which shall be dated and signed by the landlord and the tenant(s). D. Buyout Agreement Requirements. 1. Written Buyout Agreement. a. Every Buyout Agreement shall be written in the primary language of the tenant and state in a minimum of 12-point bold type above the tenant signature line as follows: “You, (tenant name), may cancel this Buyout Agreement any time up to 30 days after all parties have signed this Agreement without any obligation or penalty.” b. Every Buyout Agreement shall be signed and dated by the landlord and tenant. c. A copy of the fully executed Buyout Agreement shall be given to the tenant. 2. Cancellation of Buyout Agreement. a. A tenant shall have the right to cancel a Buyout Agreement for any reason for up to 30 days after execution by the landlord and the tenant without any financial obligation or penalty. b. Whenever an RSO Disclosure Notice and/or Buyout Agreement does not conform to the requirements of this section or RAC Regulations, the tenant shall have the right to cancel the Buyout Agreement through the applicable statute of limitations period. 3. Filing Executed RSO Disclosure Notice and Buyout Agreement. The landlord shall file with the Department copies of the RSO Disclosure Notice signed by the tenant and the landlord, and the Buyout Agreement within 60 days of the Buyout Agreement execution. E. Affirmative Defense. A violation of this section may be asserted as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action. F. Private Right of Action. A tenant may bring a private right of action against a landlord who violates a provision of this section and recover damages and a penalty of $500. signed and dated by the landlord and tenant Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text Every Buyout Agreement shall be signed and dated by the landlord and tenant.
Time to cancel	30 days after the landlord and tenant sign Applies: RSO buyout agreements; the tenant may cancel for any reason with no financial obligation or penalty § 151.31 · code text A tenant shall have the right to cancel a Buyout Agreement for any reason for up to 30 days after execution by the landlord and the tenant without any financial obligation or penalty. Until the applicable statute of limitations runs out Applies: RSO buyout agreements when the disclosure notice or agreement does not follow the required rules § 151.31 · code text Whenever an RSO Disclosure Notice and/or Buyout Agreement does not conform to the requirements of this section or RAC Regulations, the tenant shall have the right to cancel the Buyout Agreement through the applicable statute of limitations period. up to 30 days after execution by the landlord and tenant Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. § 151.31 · code text A tenant shall have the right to cancel a Buyout Agreement for any reason for up to 30 days after execution by the landlord and the tenant without any financial obligation or penalty. through the applicable statute of limitations period Applies: Voluntary buyout of an RSO rental unit for money or other consideration. RSO Disclosure Notice and/or Buyout Agreement does not conform to the section or RAC Regulations § 151.31 · code text Whenever an RSO Disclosure Notice and/or Buyout Agreement does not conform to the requirements of this section or RAC Regulations, the tenant shall have the right to cancel the Buyout Agreement through the applicable statute of limitations period.

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