The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a temporary rent stabilization policy in the unincorporated areas of LA County in order to protect renters threatened by skyrocketing rents.

The ordinance, expected to go into effect on Dec. 20, will set a 3 percent annual cap on rents for a temporary period of six months with base rent to be set as of Sept. 11, 2018.

The new rule will apply to LA County unincorporated areas, home to approximately 1 million county residents. An estimated 200,000 renters will be protected by the motion.

“Several recent local studies indicate that rent stabilization, thoughtfully adopted with other market regulation measures, can successfully protect tenants at risk of eviction with minimal negative impact on the housing market,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who brought the motion to the board in September.

“If we want to stem the tide of people falling into homelessness and be sure our seniors, as well as other renters, are protected from eviction, we have to curb unrestricted growth in rents,” Kuehl said.

Earlier in the year, the Supervisors adopted a temporary 3 percent rent cap on renters living in mobile homes in unincorporated Los Angeles.

The Supervisors’ action Tuesday builds on recent county efforts to reduce homelessness through dozens of strategies including a significant expansion of street outreach, support services for individuals at risk of homelessness, and increased investment in affordable housing.

In its first year (2017-2018), the county’s Homeless Initiative placed 7,448 homeless families and individuals in permanent housing, and more than 13,000 people in crisis, bridge and interim housing.

Read the Board letter here.