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.
If you missed a rent 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 UNAUTHORIZED PETS OR OCCUPANTS IN YOUR UNIT DUE TO COVID-19
You have until January 31, 2024, to get authorization or relocate them. After that, you may receive an eviction notice.
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.
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.
Evictions to remove rental units from the rental market under the Ellis Act may not proceed before April 1, 2023.
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. JUST 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.
- 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 UNAUTHORIZED PETS OR OCCUPANTS IN YOUR UNIT DUE TO COVID-19
Tenants with unauthorized 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 the county’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance cannot be raised more than 3% annually before December 31, 2023.
Resources and Help
To learn more about your rights, make an appointment for our Tenant Action Clinic, which we host on Tuesdays from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. SAJE staff can help answer your questions, and we also have attorneys present to advise you.
The Tenant Action Clinic is in-person at our office in South Central Los Angeles, located at 152 W. 32nd Street. For the safety of the community and SAJE staff, we require proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations.
To make an appointment, call (213) 745-9961.
You can also visit Stay Housed LA for additional resources and help.
