For Renters Who Live in the City of Los Angeles
IF YOU OWE BACK RENT DUE TO COVID-19
If you missed a rent payment or payments between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, you must pay by August 1, 2023, or set up a payment plan with your landlord.
You cannot be evicted if:
- You provided your landlord with a declaration of COVID-19 hardship from within 15 days of rent due for rent owed between March 1, 2020, through August 2020; OR
- You provided your landlord with a Declaration of COVID-19 Hardship and paid 25% of your rent for rent owed from September 1, 2020, through September 20, 2021
In addition, you cannot be evicted if you owe less than one month’s back rent, based on the fair market value of your unit.
Your landlord cannot begin a legal eviction process without following the specific procedure the city has set up. To understand the legal process for eviction in the City of Los Angeles, click here. The Unlawful Detainer must be posted on your door or handed to you by someone over the age of 18.
If you receive an Unlawful Detainer, you must answer it within 5 business days.
YOU SHOULD ANSWER THE UNLAWFUL DETAINER EVEN IF YOU HAVE RENT DEBT. IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER WITHIN 5 DAYS (EXCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS), THERE WILL BE A DEFAULT JUDGEMENT AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOSE YOUR CASE. ANSWERING BUYS YOU TIME AND THE RIGHT TO A COURT DATE.
If you missed a payment or payments between October 1, 2021 and January 31, 2023, you must pay by February 1, 2024. Your landlord cannot evict you before the deadline for paying back rent.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL PETS OR OCCUPANTS IN YOUR UNIT DUE TO COVID-19 WHO ARE NOT ON YOUR LEASE
You have until January 31, 2024, to get authorization or relocate them. After that, you may receive an eviction notice.
You can try and negotiate with your landlord and offer to pay additional rent to amend the lease.
If you have assistance or support animals, they are not considered pets and you do not have to pay any extra charges or security deposits. To read more about service and support animals, click here.
Note that everyone is entitled to a 30-day notice to cure before an eviction based on unauthorized occupants or pets (COVID-related or not) can proceed.
IF YOUR RENT IS BEING RAISED
The rent freeze for rent-stabilized units continues until January 31, 2024. It is illegal for your landlord to raise your rent before then if your unit is covered by rent control. You can file a complaint with the Los Angeles Housing Department here.
IF YOUR LANDLORD IS TRYING TO EVICT YOU TO MOVE IN OR REDEVELOP YOUR UNIT
Evictions to install a resident manager are only permitted when an on-site manager is required by law or the terms of a regulatory agreement, unless that eviction was noticed prior to March 4, 2020.
You are entitled to relocation fees. Click here for more information.
IF YOU RECEIVED AN ILLEGAL EVICTION NOTICE DURING THE PANDEMIC
Landlords cannot act on 60-day notices that were served between March 2020 and January 31, 2023, which attempt to terminate tenancy for a reason that was prohibited during that time period. Your landlord must issue a new 60-day notice in order for that eviction to proceed.
THE CITY OF L.A. RECENTLY WON THREE PERMANENT PROTECTIONS
- Just-Cause Protections: Your landlord cannot evict you without a qualified reason if you have lived in your unit for six months or more. For a list of just-cause reasons for eviction, click here.
- Nonpayment Protections: You cannot be evicted for owing less than one month of Fair Market Rent (FMR) for your unit size. To check what Fair Market Rent is in your area, click here.
- Relocation Assistance: If your landlord raises your rent by 10% or more, you have the option to move out and receive relocation money (3 x the cost of Fair Market Rent, based on unit size).
For Renters Who Live in Los Angeles County
IF YOU OWE BACK RENT DUE TO COVID-19
If you missed a payment or payments between July 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, and qualified for the county’s COVID-19 nonpayment protections (and notified your landlord with a declaration), you have up to twelve (12) months thereafter to repay that rental debt.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL PETS OR OCCUPANTS IN YOUR UNIT DUE TO COVID-19
Tenants with additional pets and/or occupants who began residing in the unit between March 1, 2020, and January 20, 2023, and whose presence was necessitated by COVID-19 must receive a 30-day notice to cure before they can be evicted based on the continuing presence of the pet/unauthorized occupant.
IF YOUR RENT IS BEING RAISED
Rents for units that are fully covered by Los Angeles County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) cannot be raised more than 3% annually before December 31, 2023. For more information about the Los Angeles County RSO, click here.
If you aren’t covered by Los Angeles County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance, you may have rent control from the State of California Tenant Protection Act, or AB 1482. The law generally applies to apartment buildings constructed more than 15 years ago. Beginning August 1, 2023, rent for units covered by AB 1482 may be raised up to 8.8%.
Resources and Help
SAJE hosts a Tenant Action Clinic on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Our staff is available from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. to answer your questions and help you understand your rights. We also have attorneys present to advise you.
You can either come in person or call (213) 745-9961. SAJE is located in South Central Los Angeles at 152 W. 32nd Street.
Help through the Tenant Action Clinic is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. You DO NOT need to make an appointment. Please bring all your relevant documents, including any eviction notices, three-, 10-, 15-, 30-, 60-, or 90-day notices, and any notices you have received from a government agency or the property owner.
For the safety of the community and SAJE staff, we require proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations.
You can also visit Stay Housed LA for additional resources and help.
