In June, a group of six tourists suffered a robbery at their short-term rental located at 429 Heliotrope in East Hollywood, where they were zip-tied and robbed by unknown assailants. The short-term rental at this property was illegal, along with potentially more than 20 others operated by the same hosts. Short-term rentals raise the cost of housing by $810/year and contribute to 5,000 additional people experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles. The City does have the ability to safeguard long-term housing stock for residents rather than tourists. In 2019, the City’s Home-Sharing Ordinance went into effect, restricting short-term rentals to a person’s primary residence, banning short-term rentals from rent-stabilized housing--and granting the City the authority to fine violators. However, the City has consistently failed to enforce the Home-Sharing Ordinance—and illegal short-term rentals account for almost half of all listings throughout Los Angeles.

That property is still listed on at least one platform, along with thousands of other illegal listings, and the City hasn’t even fined the hosts or the platforms.

Until the City fines the hosts, the platforms, and shuts down the remaining listing, more people could be attacked, and our City still doesn’t have enough housing.

We NEED the City to enforce the Home-Sharing Ordinance and crack down on violations.

Add your name to our letter (which you can find here) to make your voice heard, and tell the City that it’s time to fine these illegal operators and the platforms that let them make money, and shut down this illegal short-term rental.

Better Neighbors LA is a coalition of Southern California hosts, tenants, housing activists, hotel workers, and community members. We believe the best way to support true sharing for hosts and guests is also the best way to protect jobs and the community: by curbing illegal commercial activity in the short-term rental industry.