Some Los Angeles tenants who didn’t pay rent during the pandemic could be facing eviction in August
Payments missed between Mar. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 are due on August 1. L.A. City Council approved this on Oct. 4 after voting to lift COVID-19 renter eviction protections on Feb. 1.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that L.A. tenants know their rights and that resources are available to help in this difficult time,” Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference Monday,
City Councilwoman Nithya Raman echoed that statement.
“One of the most devastating parts of this work is that the people who need support the most often don't know about the resources that are available to them,” she said.
The Mayor’s Office proposed using funds from Measure ULA, a.k.a. the “mansion” tax, to help tenants catch up on back rent and avoid evictions. It also includes more than $18 million for a short-term emergency assistance program, which would allow low-income tenants to apply for up to six months' worth of back rent. It also includes another $23 million for an eviction defense and prevention program.
Still, Bass encourages tenants to stand their ground.
“Our message today to Angelinos is clear, do not self-evict. If you receive a notice, file a response,” she said.
Bass said it’s important not only to protect tenants but landlords as well.
Daniel Yukelson, the executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, told KNX News’ Jon Baird that he doesn’t think mass evictions will happen and that some landlords may strike a deal with tenants.
“Typically there's a deal that gets worked out outside of court and so bad actors who haven't paid their rent for a couple of years get to walk with a little bit of cash and a lot of debt that gets forgiven,” he said.
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He added that tenants should have been working on payment plans with landlords.
“They should have been paying all along and not expecting some miracle to happen on August 1st so they could pay all the rent but waiting until the last minute to make a lump sum payment,” he said.
Local tenant rights groups are bracing for the worst. Chancela Al-Mansour, the executive director of the Housing Rights Center of Los Angeles, said the goal right now is to help people keep their homes.
“It’s where they lay their heads to rest,” she said. “It’s hopefully their place of security and so, while there’s definitely an appreciation for landlords who did go the extra mile to help their tenants out during a hard time, the main emphasis has to be on tenants because preventing homeless is the main goal for the city and county of Los Angeles.”
The second portion of unpaid rent, from Oct. 1, 2021 to Feb. 1, 2023, is due Feb. 2024.
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