“I can find someone else who would pay twice this much in rent.” These were the words my landlord threw at me before refusing to renew the lease on my rent-stabilized apartment. Instantly, my rent skyrocketed by $1,000—from $1,350 to $2,350. What was I supposed to do? There’s no landlord police to stop these sudden, crushing and even illegal rent increases. My only options were to either fight a costly legal battle or scramble to find another place I could afford—neither of which was in my budget.

Like so many others, I was already spending more than half my income on rent. I was being pushed to the brink and had no idea how to move forward. This is the harsh reality for countless people facing today’s housing crisis.

Displacement in California’s Central Valley: Illegal Rent Increases and the Affordable Housing Crisis

In California’s Central Valley, activists highlight a critical issue: local rent control measures don’t provide the same protections as those in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Rev. Nelson Rabell, a pastor in Stockton and a Board member of Affordable Housing for Faith in the Valley, shared a troubling trend. As people from the Bay Area flood into the region seeking more affordable housing, long-time residents are being displaced. Landlords are evicting current tenants to make room for wealthier renters, further fueling the housing crisis.

In San Diego County, renters also struggle with illegal rent increases. Kendra Sherman, who rents an apartment in El Cajon, told KPBS that her apartment was recently taken over by a new owner, who raised her rent to more than $300/month. Other tenants in the building shared a similar experience. Their rent had also gone up, many with hikes that exceeded the cap set by state law.

Like many renters, including myself, the best recourse for tenants who feel they’ve been wronged is to hire an attorney and go to court. Even then, that doesn’t necessarily mean the tenant will see any justice. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to rent from a landlord like that. But that means I’d have to save up enough money to move, which would become even more impossible if you’re suddenly paying $300, or in my case, $1000 more monthly.

Read the full article about illegal rent increases by Jocelyn Figueroa at Invisible People.