My landlord has not signed my Residential Agreement does that mean it's not valid?

Question

I live in Los Angeles,CA and I am in a rent control area. I have a few issues. 1. I live in a second story of a house that is converted to a 1 bedroom and a kitchen is added all illegal. 2. I have a contract from 12/2005 that stats my rent is $1000 a month including utilities but the contract is only signed and initialed by me. The landlord has not signed it but emailed me a copy of it. 3. The landlord wants to raise my rent to $1300 a month. 4. I live in a rent controled area which limits how much rent can be raised.
I would like to know if I could sue them for raising my rent and pay for my moving fees. Also, the unit is not legal and im sure they do not show the goverment the deposits we make into their account. Also, they change their bank account number about 2 times a year. I want to know what my options are as a person who has paid rent on time, and have check stubs.

Your help is much appreciated. Please only answer if you are a professional or have experience.

Thanks.

The unit that I live in does not have a separate meter for water or electricity. it is a second story of a house that was converted and a kitchen was added. All of this is done illegally. The people that are renting below have a separate contract then I do. I checked on the county assessors office and they verified that it is a single family home which is a 5bed/1bath. As it is built now it's a two unit with 2 beds downstairs and a separate unit upstairs with a bathroom. It was separated illegally and the owner is renting both upstairs and downstairs to two different families.

Answer 1

If you signed the document, it does not matter whether the landlord signed it. He can enforce it because it is "signed by the party to be charged", meaning you.

Regarding your illegal rent increase: rent control cities have rent arbitration boards. You should seek direct counseling and information there so that you can follow whatever procedural requirements are needed to assert your rights under that particular law. You probably have to file and serve a "Request for Hearing" or similar document. It all depends on the specifics of the ordinance and the regulations. You might also contact a tenants' rights or advocacy group in your area for counseling.

The illegality of the owners behavior is something that you are free to report if you choose, but do not threaten to do it. Threatening to report and demanding money could be interpreted as a kind of extortion. Extortion is a felony.

Answer 2

Not the LA area, but there was a rent mediation board where I used to live with my roommate. The landlord tried to do some arbitrary things to my roommate, but when the board stepped in to mediate, the landlord backed off and denied everything. Never tried it again.

There may be an equivalent mediation board in your area, or a renter's rights group. I would think that such a board does not have the responsibility of enforcing building codes and such, so wouldn't care.

However, also check with a legal aid society, a renter's rights group, or maybe even the internet, on the exact nature of your rent control. It may not apply to a single room in one's own house. Very possible that someone has a right to evict a boarder in their own house without much process. It strikes me as a different matter from renting out a place one didn't live in, but simply owns.

If rent control does apply to your situation, it sounds like you have a good case, even without your landlord's signature. You have the email, proof that he had seen it. Also, in your cancelled checks, you have proof of the consistent amount of your rent, that can't be disputed.

Answer 3

You have a month to month rental agreement. Signed or not signed. With the agreement sent back to you by email will make it legal and binding. As far as the unit being legal or not legal would be for the building depatment. The illegal added part. Would the illegal part have a seperate gas and electric meter? If it is then it would be a permited conversion. If you are sure of the rent control then you would have options. But is it worth it?