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As the August 1 deadline of certain tenant protections are coming to expire, my office is working with our partners on the City Council and the Los Angeles Housing Department to prepare resources for Angelenos that may be impacted in the City of Los Angeles.

We will do all we can to ensure that a wave of evictions does not hit our City as we continue confronting the homelessness crisis. 

Important dates
Under previous tenant protections passed into law during the COVID-19 pandemic, tenants have until August 1, 2023 to pay any missing rent due between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. For rent due between October 1, 2021 and January 31, 2023, tenants have until February 31, 2024 to pay the missing rent. 

The following resources and protections are available for Angelenos: 

If you receive an eviction notice: 

Tenants should: 

• Read their paperwork carefully and file an answer within 5 days.

• Reach out to the LA Housing Department.

• Reach out to StayHoused LA.

• Reach out to your local Council Office. Find out who your council member is here.

If you are experiencing harassment from your landlord*: 

Tenants should reach out to: 

• The LA Housing Department. 

• A legal assistance group like Coalition for Economic Survival. Find a list here. 

• Their local Council Office. Find out who your council member is here.

*Renter harassment can take many forms, including refusal to complete required repairs, threatening physical harm, asking about immigration status, and more. To see a full list of what qualifies as renter harassment in the City of Los Angeles, click HERE.  

Illegal rent increases

• Annual rent increases are prohibited through January 31, 2024 for rental units subject to the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). If you receive an illegal rent increase, please report it to the Los Angeles Housing Department. If you believe you have received a rent increase in violation of the rules, please file a complaint by calling (866) 557-7368. A rent increase calculator for the current year is available here.

Eviction protections 

• The City Council and Mayor approved a minimum threshold for evictable rent debt, which means tenants who owe less than one month of back rent (as set by the HUD Fair Market Rent for) cannot be evicted on the basis of late rent.

• ALL residential rental units in the City of Los Angeles now officially have “just cause” protections, meaning a landlord cannot evict a tenant without declaring a legal reason for eviction. For more information about “just cause” protections, click here. 

  • In non-RSO units, these protections kick in after six months or at the end of the first lease term, whichever comes first. If you’ve already been in your apartment for six months today, you’re protected.

• Tenants who receive a rent increase of more than 10% within a 12 month period and are unable to afford the rent increase have the option to receive relocation assistance to move out of their rental unit.

• For all at-fault evictions, landlords must file notice with the Los Angeles Housing Department within three business days, including stating legal reasons for eviction. For all no-fault evictions, landlords must file notice with the Los Angeles Housing Department, submit required fees, and pay the tenant relocation assistance. For more information about relocation assistance, click here. 

• All landlords of residential properties must provide a Notice of Renters’ Protections to tenants who begin or renew their tenancy. This notice must also be posted in an accessible common area of the property. For more information, click here.

Other resources

• If your landlord threatens you with eviction prior to filing with the courts, watch this video training by the Los Angeles Housing Department about tenant protections. 

• If you are threatened with eviction after an unlawful detainer has been filed, visit the StayHousedLA website to receive support and resources. Stay Housed LA is a partnership between the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and local community and legal service providers. The Stay Housed LA website explains current renter protections, hosts renter workshops, and refers renters facing eviction to legal service providers.

• Los Angeles Housing Department Legal Resources: List of agencies providing a variety of assistance on landlord/tenant issues, rent stabilization, code enforcement, housing matters, and evictions.

• Tenant Power Toolkit: Information for tenants facing eviction.

• The Los Angeles Housing Department has opened public counters for direct assistance (by appointment only).To see a full list of locations and make an appointment, click HERE, or call (866) 557-RENT [7368]. 

• Contact your local representative in City Council. Find more information here.

• StayHoused LA regularly hosts Tenants Rights workshops reviewing your rights and protections — sign up to attend an upcoming workshop here.

Our work ahead
My office is proposing to utilize Measure ULA dollars to fund rental assistance programs to help support Angelenos. The ULA funding plan will come before the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee on August 2nd. 

The funding plan includes a Short Term Emergency Assistance Program, funding for eviction defense/prevention to ensure that the City’s existing Stay Housed LA (SHLA) program continues to prevent and defend evictions of low-income renters through at least the end of its current contract period of June 30th, 2025, and possibly beyond among other efforts.

Read more here.

Taking action
Just a few weeks ago, my office and the Los Angeles Housing Department launched a public information campaign to get the word out about new protections and resources for Angelenos. We put ads on the radio, in community papers and even on taco trucks.

The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, an independent nonprofit that works across the private and philanthropic sectors to support Mayor Bass’ vision for L.A. — has shifted focus and is committing its resources to the critical work of homelessness prevention. Outreach teams have already connected with nearly 41,000 Angelenos and made case management appointments with more than 10,000 Angelenos. In the coming weeks the program will work to connect Angelenos with critical services they need to stay housed. By the end of September, We Are LA aims to have connected with more than 200,000 Angelenos.

Even if you are not impacted by the end of the COVID-19 emergency protections, please share these resources with your networks. No one in our City should face any form of housing discrimination or an unlawful eviction. 

Karen Bass
Mayor