Why is getting the rent control status of your unit correct so important? 

Navigating the world of rental property management comes with a maze of legal responsibilities—and one of the most critical factors to understand is whether your property is subject to rent control. For landlords, this isn’t just a legal technicality. Rent control can significantly impact how much you can charge for rent, when and how you can increase it, and even your ability to evict tenants. Failing to understand your property’s rent control status can lead to costly legal missteps, compliance issues, and potential tenant disputes. 

Why Rent Control Status Matters in Automated Legal Workflows

Joiner’s real estate management platform streamlines critical landlord functions—automating everything from rent increase notices and notices of entry to cure-or-quit and pay-or-quit notices. Each of these documents is generated with built-in legal disclosures tailored to your property’s specific requirements. One key factor that shapes these legal templates? Rent control status. Whether or not a unit is subject to rent control directly impacts what language and requirements must be included in the notices you serve. That’s why accurately identifying rent control status isn’t just important—it’s essential for compliance and avoiding legal risk.

Disclaimer & Legal Guidance

This post is designed to help you assess whether your rental unit falls under rent control by summarizing key aspects of applicable laws. However, it is not a substitute for legal advice. Because rent control regulations vary widely by city and sometimes county —and because a unit not covered by a local ordinance may still fall under California’s statewide rent control and just cause eviction laws (see this post) —it’s important to consult the relevant local statutes or seek advice from a qualified attorney to make a definitive determination.Joiner partners with BrightWork Law PC, a firm known for delivering efficient, cost-effective legal counsel tailored to the needs of property owners and managers across California. If you are not sure about the status of your unit we recommend that you contact BrightWork or any other law firm.

Units Covered by Rent Control in Los Gatos, California

Los Gatos, California has implemented a rent control and just cause for eviction ordinance (Ord. No. 2128) which can be found here. 

Answering the question of what units are covered by local rent ordinances is often difficult and this article is intended to help you understand what types of units are covered in Los Gatos, California. It should be noted that even if not covered by the local ordinance a unit may still be covered by California law (see California Rent Control and Just Cause Covered Units). 

The below is a summary, and should not be relied upon without reviewing the currency of the Los Gatos Municipal Code (CMC) and reading in detail the provisions related to the applicability. 

The ordinance covers “Rental Units” which are defined as “any building or part of a building which is used for residence, or any mobile home owned by a mobile home park owner, and which is rented to a Tenant as a dwelling place”, except: 

•  A Rental Unit located in a building or group of buildings on the same premises containing only one (1) dwelling unit; 
• A room in an owner-occupied dwelling where under the lease provisions the Tenant does not have the substantially exclusive use of the kitchen; 
• A single house, condominium unit, or planned development (Business & Professions Code 11003) unit; 
• A hotel room or similar accommodation ordinarily let for occupancy by the same Tenant for periods of less than thirty (30) days; 
• A hospital room, skilled nursing facility, or similar accommodation where the main factor in the rental relationship is the personal care given to the Tenant; 
• A dwelling owned, operated, or managed by a government agency or which is exempted by state or federal law from Rent regulation; 
• Mobile homes located in mobile home parks and not owned by the mobile home park owner. 

Duplexes, which are defined as two or more rental units on one property, are exempt from certain – but not all – components of the rent control regulations.