How to Find Apartments In Los Angeles

Last updated on November 9th, 2022 at 10:14 am

Los Angeles houses form one of America’s distinct skylines. From the glamour and glitz of Hollywood to the iconic Beverly Hills, the city boasts some of the major world-class museums. However, more than half of its population live in rented houses due to the high costs of owning a home.

As a result, renting quality units in prime locations continues to gain more competition from those seeking to settle in the city. In addition, corporate landlords taking over the city are making it more complicated to find a suitable apartment. 

In case you’re looking for the best way to find apartments in Los Angeles, read on for some ways that’ll make the process less painstaking.

Search On Apartment Renters Sites

The internet is the first place most people begin their search for an apartment. Thanks to technology—you can carry your search online without any help. There are sites dedicated to helping you, whether you’re looking for an apartment as a property to invest in or a residential apartment.

Sites such as Craigslist, Zillow Rental Manager, Apartments.com update their sites frequently on available apartments for rent. These websites classify apartments based on unique needs, such as proximity to social amenities, plus other things that may interest potential renters.

Use Apartment Finder Apps

You can download apartment search applications, such as Apartment Finder, Rent.com, Zumper, Trulia Rentals, among others, and use them to search for apartments anywhere. Take advantage of your smartphone’s GPS to locate available apartments near you as you walk in the neighborhood.

Just note that most of these Apps share information. You may need to identify and download one reliable app within your locality.

Find Real Estate Brokers

Most real estate brokers will not charge you to find a property. However, you may need to engage a broker specializing in rental properties and not home sales. With the tight competition for apartments in Los Angeles, talk to several real estate agents to expand your options.  Ensure the agent has access to the apartment since real estate brokers have varying relationships with property owners.  

Ask On Social Media

Let your friends on Facebook and other social sites know you’re looking for a new residence. You might be surprised by the number of people flocking your post with comments on places to live in Los Angeles. Include your wishlist in the post so that people know the exact type of apartment you’re looking for.

You may then need to buy renters insurance to cover your belongings if disasters such as fire occur—landlord insurance only covers building repair costs.

Drive Around and Ask

No method works magic other than word of mouth when looking for an apartment to live in.  Drive around and talk to people. Suppose you have friends living where you intend to find a new home; engage them since they might have the information about a vacancy before the word goes out.  

In addition, you might bump on those ‘ For Rent’ posters that never make it to online apartment search lists. One major advantage of driving around and engaging people by word of mouth is the opportunity of asking as many questions as you want before settling for a deal.  

Best Places to Rent in Los Angeles

The first step towards what makes the best place to live in Los Angeles starts with your priorities. While some people are drawn by the allure of life near Hollywood, others prefer a relaxed lifestyle near the ocean. More factors come into play. As a result, it’s important first to define what makes a ‘best place to Rent in Los Angeles.’

Here is a guide you can use for the best places to live in Los Angeles.

• On a budget: Montecito Heights, Tarzana, Lake Balboa, Atwater Village, Van Nuys, Vermont Vista, East Hollywood, Vermont Knolls, Jefferson Park, San Pedro, and Koreatown.
• Near the Ocean: Venice, Madina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Long Beach, Playa Del Rey, and San Pedro.
• L.A city: Glendale, Pasadena, Torrance, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Chino.
• Most Expensive: University Park, North Montana, and Historic South-Central

The most searched best places to rent in Los Angeles include Brentwood, Mar Vista, West LA, Koreatown, Los Feliz, Mid-Wilshire, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Boyle Lake, and Silver Heights.  

How to Find Cheap Apartments in Los Angeles

Apartment prices are generally high in Los Angeles. However, that does not prevent you from finding one that is within your budget. While most affordable apartments in Los Angeles are mostly studio apartments, there are cheap one-bedroom and two-bedrooms you can find in Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Below are tips you can use in your pursuit of cheap apartments in Los Angeles.

Avoid Corporate Landlords and Realtors

Renters looking for cheap apartments in Los Angeles should avoid using such go-betweens who hike rents more than the property’s actual prices. Intermediaries like corporate landlords will always inflate the property price more than what the rent legislative laws dictate.

If you can find a rent-controlled apartment, the better, Otherwise online apartment finder sites are the best option. Such sites will always list all the available apartments and their prices, from the most luxurious to the cheapest home you can find within a particular area.

Steer Clear of Apartments With Amenities You Don’t Need

It’s a no-brainer that an apartment with, for instance, 200 units in a managed building—a swimming pool, weight room, computer lounge, a 24-hour front desk will cost more than the same size apartment in a 50-unit building. Before signing a lease, ask many questions, such as pet insurance fees plus other additional amenity charges that you may otherwise not need.  

Consider Roommates

Sharing costs is one of the best ways to live cheaply in Los Angeles. Make sure you have a separate lease so that you’re not held responsible in case your partner fails to pay. Use social media—Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to find out more details about your roommates before moving in together. Search online for properties that offer joint leases since some property owners don’t allow them.

Offer to Lease For a Longer Period

Los Angeles is a competitive marketplace for renters. One sure tip to draw your landlord’s attention is negotiating an extended lease period of 14 or 15 months. This is mainly a good idea where the traditional 12-month lease period expires in November or December. It is difficult to rent properties in such months. As a result, you can enjoy additional months on top before the next rent raise.

Best Time to Rent In Los Angeles

Settling in a new home in Los Angeles can be both time-consuming and expensive. However, you can simplify the process by knowing the best time to rent an apartment, plus other ways to save money on rent.

So, what’s the right time to rent an apartment in Los Angeles? A 2017 post by Renthop site about the median price on apartment listing showed that those who signed a new lease during late fall paid up to $850 less than those who rented in summer.

However, the prices may vary depending on the size of the unit. For example, in December, you’ll rent a two-bedroom apartment at four percent lower than in September when the prices shoot up again. The report further showed that rents are low in up to ten major cities in the U.S. between November and March. The prices spikes again in all the ten cities between May and October. Going by the trends, November is the best time to rent an apartment in Los Angeles.

How to Find Rent-Controlled Apartments in Los Angeles

Rent-controlled apartments refer to legislative laws barring landlords from increasing rent beyond a specific limit—usually more than the market rates. Such laws vary by state. Some states cap the rent increment to a specific percentage from the previous year. In such cases, the new tenant only pays a small amount on top every year as defined by state law.

Potential renters looking to find a home in Los Angeles—one of the cities that continue to experience an upswing in rent every year, can greatly benefit from apartment rent-control legislation.  But, how do you locate such apartments? The process is simple. The city has a great resource database—Zone Information and Map Access System (ZIMAS).

Here, you enter your zone code in the ‘housing’ tab on the database. If the answer is ‘yes’ just next to the “Rent Stabilization Ordinance,” then your apartment is rent-controlled.

How To Find Short Term Rentals In Los Angeles

Temporary residence is common practice across many people on a work project or vacation. However, you may want to make your stay in Los Angeles as comfortable and affordable as possible irrespective of the duration. Fortunately, there are sites that offer short term rentals in LA. For instance,  The Los Angeles Housing Group is a Facebook group where people post fully furnished co-living spaces every day for people seeking short-term or cheap residences.

Anyplace.com is another great site that offers rental apartments specifically for digital nomads who rent on monthly terms. Such rooms are fully furnished with all utilities set. They offer the flexibility to move in and out when you want.

Where to Find Apartments for Rent In Los Angeles Under $1,000

Los Angeles has rental apartments within all price ranges. The list narrows down to specific requirements to meet unique individual needs. Below are some places you’ll find apartments for rent in Los Angeles for under $1,000.

• South Central apartments: suitable for USC students and other working professionals.
• South Saint Louis Street, Boyle heights
• Constanso Street, Woodland Hills-Warner Center
• Barbara Ann Street, North Hollywood
• White Oak Avenue, Encino
• Lull street, West Hills
• Rosita Street, Tarzana
• Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills-Warner Center
• Valerio Street, Canoga Park

Where to Find Apartments for Rent In Los Angeles Under $800

The city of  Angeles offers some of the fine things life can offer. A home of movie stars, sports, art, nature, and luxury draws a lot of competition from renters looking to make the city home. Thankfully, most apartment renters sites either have apartment inbuilt cost calculators or pricing tools to help you gauge how much it’ll cost you to live in the city.

Such sites also have apartment property listings categorized by the cost of living plus other available amenities. Below is a list of places you’ll find apartments for rent under $800.

• Koreatown apartments
• Hancock Park apartments
•  Mid-city apartments
• West Adams apartments
• Venice Beach apartments
• Beverly Grove apartments
• Westwood apartments
• Mid-Wilshire apartments
• Greater Culver City apartments
• Westlake apartments
• Garland Avenue apartments

Note that property prices are subject to fluctuation depending on the time of the year and the neighborhood.

What’s The Average Rent in Los Angeles

The average size of apartments in Los Angeles is 792 sq. ft. The figure varies depending on the unit type. Studio apartments are the most affordable but the tiniest. One-bedroom apartments fall under the average apartment. Two and three bedrooms are more spacious and considered luxurious.

The average rent for a mid-size space of 792 sq. ft in Los Angeles costs $ 2,376.

Here is an exhaustive list of average rent in Los Angeles across different neighborhoods.

• Venice – $ 3,385
• Beverly Grove – $3,466
• Pico – $3,510
• Exposition Park – $3,575
• Adam-Normandie – $3,773
• Mid-city Santa Monica – $3,799
• Downtown Santa Monica – $3,854
• North of Montana – $3,977
• Historic South-Central – $4,094
• University Park – $4,146

Los Angeles is an expensive city flocked by many renters. Experts advise that finding rental properties in such high marketplace competition requires more planning to get a good deal. In your planning, you may use tips like:

• Creating a realistic budget
• Making a wishlist
• Identifying available neighborhoods and zeroing in to specifics
• Setting expectations
• Searching for the apartment
• Surveying the apartment in person
• Carrying a thorough inspection by asking a lot of questions
• Signing a lease

In a city where new renters are prone to exploitation by corporate landlords, you may consider rent-controlled apartments to save you from unnecessary additional charges. Do an online search before setting out to engage people through word of mouth.