LA Council votes to let renters keep pandemic pets without fear of eviction

Renters in the city of Los Angeles who adopted a COVID cat or a pandemic pooch may no longer have to worry about being evicted for having a pet.

The L.A. city council voted Tuesday to advance a proposal that would keep pandemic-era eviction protections in place for any animal adopted since March of 2020 — even if those pets violated the terms of a tenant’s lease.

Dianne Prado is the founder of Heart L.A., a tenant advocacy organization focused on helping renters with pets. She said the council’s vote means tenants won’t have to choose between their pets and their homes.

“It's a huge assistance for tenants,” Prado said. “Pets are a part of our family.”

Why tenants have adopted so many new pets

Many L.A. renters took in new pets during the pandemic. Some adopted animals as a way to cope with newfound isolation. Others allowed friends or family members struggling from COVID-related job loss or returning from closed college campuses to move into their apartments, even if those new roommates brought animals that violated no-pets policies.

As LAist previously reported, some tenants have faced eviction threats over new pets. Local COVID-19 regulations helped to stop many of those evictions. But the city of L.A.’s eviction protection for unauthorized pets is currently set to expire on Feb. 1, 2024.

The council’s plan — which still needs a final vote — would require landlords to allow pets already living in any rental housing unit to keep living there for the rest of the animals’ lives, or until the tenant chooses to move or re-home them.

The policy only covers pets adopted during the pandemic emergency period, not any future adoptions that violate pet prohibitions. The protection also does not stop landlords from evicting tenants over serious nuisances or other issues caused by pets.

Officials say eviction safeguards help keep pets out of shelters

The California Apartment Association (CAA), a landlord advocacy group, supported the city council’s move, only asking that tenants register their pets and notify their landlord about any recent adoptions.

“CAA understands the challenges, hardships and circumstances which resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and that some residents adopted or fostered animals into apartment units where they normally would be prohibited,” wrote spokesperson Fred Sutton in a letter to the council ahead of the vote.

A report from the city’s Department of Animal Services said the number of pets covered by the policy is unknown. But officials said making eviction protections permanent for these pets will probably lower the number of animals being surrendered at overcrowded L.A. shelters.