Ask Curbed: Something is Fishy About My Rent Hike

This is a question that has come up before in other forms, but this rent increase is pretty stiff. A reader in Venice writes: "Help, my building in Venice was built in the early 1900s. In 1978 they added an additional 5 unit building in the back of the property joined by a very small walkway bridge to the front units. I have lived here for over 12 years and every year my rent was raised according to rent control rates, BUT recently the new management co. raised my rent by $400 . I contacted the LAHD [Los Angeles Housing Department] and they are saying renovations were done here ( not sure what was done besides tile and cabinets put in the kitchen, everything else is very old.) what else can I do?S Seems fishy to me." [Curbed Inbox]