To provide a resource for those displaced by the Los Angeles fires, this edition of “What You Get” focuses on rentals rather than for-sale properties.
Sherman Oaks | $2,500
A unit in a 1971 condominium complex
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is in Sherman Oaks, a few blocks from Ventura Boulevard. Anjak Thai Cuisine, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, is five minutes away on foot, as are an outpost of Mel’s Drive-In and a Neapolitan pizza parlor. A Pavilions supermarket is also within walking distance, and Whole Foods, Mendocino Farms, and Gelsons are all less than five minutes away by car. The Sherman Oaks Galleria, a mall with a movie theater, restaurants and office space, is a mile away.
Downtown Los Angeles is a 40-minute drive on the 101 Freeway. Burbank Airport is half an hour.
Size: 741 square feet
Indoors: This unit’s front door opens to the living room, where south-facing windows with white wood shutters overlook nearby hillsides. The space is big enough for a sectional sofa, and at the far end of the room is a dining nook with its own large window.
A galley kitchen, off the dining nook, has been recently updated and has stainless steel appliances including a built-in gas cooktop and a dishwasher. The microwave is also built-in, and the refrigerator is new.
A short corridor off the living room leads to the bedroom, which has a ceiling fan and a window that faces tree branches. The closet has mirrored sliding doors, and another small closet off the hall holds a stacked washer and dryer. The bathroom is next door to the bedroom, with a high-set window in the combined tub and shower and a new vanity beneath a long mirror and a light fixture.
Outdoor space and amenities: The complex has a swimming pool and a patio area with barbecue grills, a gym and a clubhouse. This unit comes with one parking spot in a secure garage.
Utilities: Trash, water and gas are included, while electricity and cable/internet are not.
Contact: Mark Gonzales, Compass, 310-795-9920
Hollywood | $2,700
A unit in a 1985 condominium building
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is one block from both Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards. Mexican, Brazilian, and Mediterranean restaurants line a nearby stretch of Sunset, and TCL Chinese Theatre, a venue known for hosting Hollywood premieres since 1927, is about half a mile away. Runyon Canyon, where hiking trails wind up to a peak with sweeping views of the city, is five minutes away by car. The Hollywood Bowl is a 10-minute drive.
Hollywood and Highland, a stop on the Metro’s B Line, is less than a mile away. West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip are 10 minutes away by car, and Santa Monica takes 35 minutes.
Size: 550 square feet
Indoors: Behind this unit’s front door is a bright living room, with tiled floors and a gas fireplace in one corner. The sitting area currently holds a sofa and a small desk. There’s space for a dining table at the far end of the room, in front of sliding-glass doors that open to a private balcony overlooking palm trees.
A breakfast bar with space for two divides the living room from the kitchen, which has stainless steel appliances and a stainless steel sink.
The bedroom, off the living room, is big enough for a king-size bed. A long window with blinds is set high on one wall, and a walk-in closet has built-in shelving and an island that holds a combined washer and dryer. Also attached to the bedroom is the bathroom, which has a door between its vanity and dressing area, and its combined tub and shower.
Outdoor space and amenities: In addition to the private balcony, which is big enough for a set of chairs, the complex has a shared gym and swimming pool. This unit is allotted one parking spot in a gated garage.
Utilities: Trash, water and gas are included, while electricity and cable/internet are not.
Contact: Anne St. Cyr, Vista Sotheby’s International Realty — Rolling Hills Estates, 310-755-9592
Downtown Los Angeles | $2,575
A unit in a 1912 building converted into condominiums in 2008
This loft-style unit, which can be rented with or without furniture, is in the Beaux-Arts Rowan Lofts, in the heart of downtown and once home to law and financial services offices. Its architect, John Parkinson, also worked on the design of Los Angeles’s City Hall. Pershing Square, a city park that regularly hosts concerts and events, is a few blocks away, as is Grand Central Market, where the stalls are lined with vendors serving everything from Berlin-style currywurst to vegan ramen.
The Last Bookstore, which sells new and used books and records, is across the street, and the Broad, a modern art museum, is less than a mile away.
Size: 805 square feet
Indoors: This unit’s front door opens to a living room with hardwood floors and a long wall of exposed brick punctuated with oversized windows facing the cityscape. The ceilings are high and the walls are painted white. Beyond the sitting area is an open kitchen and dining space with more large windows and a long table that seats six.
The kitchen’s appliances include a built-in microwave, a gas cooktop and a refrigerator, all stainless steel. Cabinet space is built above and below the countertops, and windows throughout the unit have mahogany frames.
Behind the kitchen is a sleeping area, with two more large windows and ample closet space. The en suite bathroom has a wood vanity with a black stone counter, and the combined shower and deep bathtub are lined with neutral-tone tile.
Outdoor space and amenities: The building’s lobby is finished with original marble detailing, and has a 24-hour doorman. Shared amenities include a dog run, a barbecue area and hot and cold plunge pools. On-site dry cleaning and bike storage are available.
Utilities: Gas, trash, and water are included, while electricity and cable/internet are not.
Contact: Jenny Morant and Tyler Morant, Compass, 310-266-5216
Resources for renters
Los Angeles Housing Department Information on resources and protections for renters
FEMA Information and grants for renters
City of Los Angeles Affordable Housing Registry Search and register for housing
Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Registry List and locate housing, including affordable housing, emergency housing, and housing for those with special needs
Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles A centralized resource for those displaced by the fires.
211LA A hub for health, human, and social services
Orange County Housing and Community Development Affordable housing rental listings
Riverside County Affordable Rentals Affordable housing rental listings
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