LOS ANGELES — For the first time in years, renters in the L.A. metro area may be catching a break.
According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, median rent across the L.A. metro area dropped to $2,167 in December, the lowest level in four years. In L.A. County, the median rent fell to $2,035, also a four-year low.
The shift is being driven by a surge in new apartments and a slowdown in demand. More than 15,000 multifamily units were completed in 2025, which is an 18% increase from the year before. L.A. County’s population shrank by about 28,000 people. As a result, vacancy rates climbed to 5.3%, the highest since 2021.
For some renters, the change is already showing up in their leases. East L.A. resident Sandra Gomez says she expected her rent to rise when she opened her renewal notice last fall. Instead, her monthly rent dropped from $2,000 to $1,950.
“I thought it was a mistake,” Gomez told the Times. “Since when does rent get cheaper in L.A.?”
Experts say it’s largely a supply-and-demand story. With more units hitting the market, older apartments are facing new competition. Property managers report listings sitting for weeks instead of days, and landlords offering incentives like free rent, waived fees, or move-in deals.
Still, analysts caution the dip may be temporary. Winter is typically a slower rental season, and current prices are only about 4% below L.A.’s all-time rent high. In many popular neighborhoods, including Silver Lake, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Culver City, rents are still climbing.
Even so, renters say the shift matters.
“For the first time, it feels like we have a little negotiating power,” one North Hollywood tenant told the Times. “Finally, a renter’s market — even if it’s just a small one.”
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