In a unanimous decision on May 22, 2025, the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission (RSC) upheld a rent reduction for tenants Fabienne Rigaud and Brent Winter at 1125 N. Vista St., affirming a Hearing Examiner’s ruling that the loss of a garage storage area constituted a reduction in housing services. The decision, part of appeal D-4987, granted the tenants a $328 monthly rent decrease—$253 for the garage/storage space as a common area issue and $75 for a patio space—despite objections from the landlord, Lux Management II, LLC.
The tenants, who have lived at the property since 2015, filed for the rent decrease after the new owner, represented by Brian Tannenbaum and managing agent Sean Sagen, demanded they remove their belongings from the garage in August 2024. Fabienne Rigaud shared the emotional toll of the ordeal, stating, “We used that [garage] since 2019 after the first original owner sold the property. He gave us authorization to use the garage as a storage, and since then we’ve been using it until this new owner asked us to move all our things out.” She added, “There was a lot of things which belonged to us, that we cared for, that we had to get rid of or [store] elsewhere.”
The landlord argued that the garage was not intended for storage, citing fire hazards and insurance concerns. Sean Sagen claimed the tenants’ items were “junk,” stating, “I sent [notices] saying, if this is junk, you guys want to take it away or [I’ll] throw it away for you.” However, the RSC found this argument unconvincing. Commissioner Kimberly Copeland noted, “This was a service that was provided during the tenancy… that was removed by the request of the new owner and warrants the reduction.” The commission clarified that under Rent Stabilization Regulation 60041C, a rent reduction applies to discontinued housing services, even if the service violates legal or insurance requirements. Legal counsel Kellan Martz emphasized, “The rent reduction would still be valid… that’s an issue for [the landlord] and their insurance carrier, not for the analysis of this issue.”
The decision underscores West Hollywood’s tenant-friendly rent stabilization laws, which define housing services broadly. Vice Chair Frank D Rorie Jr. explained, “The definition of a housing service in West Hollywood is very liberal, and it doesn’t have to be written into the lease… the law is the law here.” Chair Adam G Bass added a hypothetical to illustrate the ordinance’s intent: a landlord might remove a pool to build a courtyard, improving the property’s value, but tenants could still claim a reduction for the lost service. “These are not punitive deductions,” Bass clarified, emphasizing that such reductions compensate tenants for lost amenities, even if the landlord’s actions align with compliance needs.
For West Hollywood renters, this ruling highlights the importance of documenting housing services, even those granted informally, as they can become legally protected over time. Landlords, meanwhile, must navigate the city’s strict regulations, where tenant rights often take precedence, even amidst safety or insurance concerns. The RSC’s decision on D-4987 sets a precedent for similar disputes, reinforcing that prior usage of a space—whether in writing or not—can justify a rent reduction when that service is discontinued.
This version of the article has corrected the names and attribution of quotes for the chair and vice-chair.
