The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, March 6 updated a city law to clarify that any tenants awaiting disbursement of rental assistance payments fall under eviction protections.
City Council members voted 13-0, notifying landlords and tenants that eviction protections apply to both tenants living in non-rent-controlled units and rent-controlled units. The protections are considered retroactive, according to the city documents.
Some renters across the city continue to face concerns over eviction due to a Feb. 1 deadline to pay back overdue rent accrued between Oct. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2023.
The council previously extended eviction protections for any applicant who has been approved for rent relief and is awaiting those funds. In the latest round of rent relief, the city made available over $30 million to help tenants, but the city remained slow in distributing funds.
All residential rental units in the city have “just cause” protections, meaning a legal reason must be declared for an eviction to take place. In non-rent-controlled units, these protections take effect after six months or at the end of the first lease term, whichever comes first.
Council members Nithya Raman and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote.
This change reiterates that any tenant awaiting financial assistance is protected against eviction for non-payment of rent. City officials have also advised tenants not to self-evict, and to contact the Los Angeles Housing Department if they’ve received an eviction notice.
Officials want to ensure that renters understand the type of notice they’re receiving as well. A pay or quit notice, for example, does not typically require a response, but the renter should reach out to the Housing Department.
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An eviction process usually begins after a three-day notice, and the renter should have received an unlawful detainer notice. Renters usually must respond within five days to a notice. For assistance with UD response, renters can visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction-tenant/respond.
The Housing Department Hotline can be reached at 866-557-7368. The Eviction Defense Network can be reached at 213-385-8112.
Further resources and legal assistance can also be found at tenantpowertoolkit.org/, www.stayhousedla.org and housing2.lacity.org/protectionsnotice.