On January 25, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to extend the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution through December 31, 2022, unless repealed or further extended by the Board.
What is the County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution?
The County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution (formerly the LA County Eviction Moratorium), which went into effect March 4, 2020, extends certain protections to residential and commercial tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County.
Who is covered by the County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution?
The COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution applies to residential tenants, commercial tenants and mobile home space renters in unincorporated Los Angeles County, as well as cities in the County that do not have a moratorium in place. It also established the County’s temporary emergency tenant protections as the baseline for all incorporated cities within the County. This includes incorporated cities that have their own local eviction moratoria, to the extent the city’s moratorium does not include the same or greater tenant protections as the County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution. Please contact your city or call DCBA at 800-593-8222 for more information.
What should I know about the updated COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution?
The updated COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution includes two phases which incorporate both extensions and lifting of some existing eviction protections, as well as reinstating/adding eviction protections for residential nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19 financial hardship, as outlined below:
Phase I (February 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022)
- Extends protections for residential tenants and mobile home space renters extended through May 31, 2022. This includes:
- Rent increase freeze (including new pass-throughs or related charges) for rent-stabilized units in unincorporated areas of the County
- Protections against evictions for: No-fault eviction reasons (except for qualified Owner Move-in); nuisance; unauthorized occupants or pets; denying entry to landlord
- Anti-harassment and retaliation protections for all residential, mobile home space renters and commercial tenants
- Personal guarantee protections for smaller (0-9 employees) commercial tenants
- Adds (Effective April 1, 2022) eviction protections for nonpayment of rent, including self-certification to establish affirmative defense, for all residential and mobile home space renters due to COVID-19 financial hardship for rent incurred on or after April 1, 2022
- Lifts non-payment of rent eviction protections for commercial tenants (expires January 31, 2022)
Phase II (June 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022)
- Extends protections for residential tenants and mobile home space renters continued through December 31, 2022:
- Rent increase freeze – (including new pass-throughs or related charges) for rent-stabilized units in unincorporated areas of the County
- Protections for: no-vault eviction reasons (except for qualified Owner Move-in); nuisance; unauthorized occupants or pets
- Anti-harassment and retaliation protections for all residential, mobile home space renters and commercial tenants
- Personal guarantee protection for smaller (0-9 employees) commercial tenants
- Amends (Effective June 1, 2022) eviction protections for nonpayment of rent, including self-certification to establish affirmative defense, for households with income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) ONLY due to COVID-19 financial hardship for rent incurred on or after April 1, 2022
- Lifts the following protections: – Protections against eviction for denying entry to landlord, except when the entry constitutes harassment; Owner Move-Ins – (removes the purchase date 6/30/2021 requirement); and the requirement that tenants not be financially impacted by COVID-19 for Owner Move-Ins to be allowed
Rent is Still Owed!
The County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution does not cancel or stop the rent from being owed, or stop the accumulation of rent that is owed during the protections period. Tenants should pay if they can and are encouraged to work out a payment plan with their landlord during and after the termination of the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution. Even if a Tenant is eligible for protection from eviction under local and state law, a landlord can sue a Tenant to collect any rent that is owed.
If you have additional questions or need assistance, please contact DCBA at 800-593-8222 or visit RENT.LACOUNTY.GOV.
– Provided by LA County Consumer and Business Affairs