In April 1987, the Gardena City Council passed an ordinance that requires the owner of residential rental units to provide a copy of a booklet entitled "Rent Mediation and Arbitration Procedures" for each residential unit and to all new tenants thereafter.

The ordinance was designed to shield tenants from unreasonable rent increases while permitting the property owners to receive sufficient rent to maintain their rental units as well as receive a reasonable return on their investment.

In addition, the ordinance requires that a tenant receive a written notice of a rent increase at least sixty (60) days prior to the actual effective date of the increase. Mobile Home Park tenants must receive a ninety (90) day notice. All rent increases must also include a notice to the tenant of their right to mediation/arbitration and that the tenant has ten (10) business days following receipt of the notice to file a mediation petition with the City in order to exercise their rights under Chapter 14 .04 of the Gardena Municipal Code.

If a tenant desires to file a request for mediation, he/she may do so by completing a "Request for Mediation" form and submitting it to the City Manager's Office, Room 112 at 1700 W. 162nd Street. Within 30 days of filing, City staff and the Rent Mediation Board will review the request and schedule it for hearing typically within two weeks. For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at (310) 217-9508 or (310) 217-9503 or visit City Hall, Room 112, 1700 W. 162nd Street, Gardena.