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Renters Across LA County Will Lose COVID-19 Eviction Safeguards On Friday
Defaulting renter with facemask receives letter giving notice of eviction from home on wooden table
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Topline:
Los Angeles County will do away with its COVID-19 eviction protections on Friday, bringing to an end three years of local rules meant to stabilize tenants who couldn’t keep up with their rent due to economic harms brought on by the pandemic.
Why now: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently voted to end the local COVID-19 emergency declaration on March 31. Once that state of emergency goes away, so will the county’s pandemic-era protections for non-payment of rent.
Who’s impacted: Anyone who rents anywhere in L.A. County’s 88 cities or unincorporated areas.
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What’s changing: Tenants who can’t make their April rent on time will no longer be able to cite the pandemic as a reason to delay payment. They could face eviction as soon as next week. An estimated 246,000 households in the L.A. metro area are currently behind on their rent. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has said she’s worried about an imminent spike in evictions and homelessness.
What’s next: Tenants with past-due rent from previous months will have to repay that money, but not right away. The city and county of L.A. have different rules governing when tenants must repay pandemic rent debt.
The politics: Tenant groups have said the expiring rules could cause thousands to lose their housing, especially those still reeling from job loss or the death of a family breadwinner. Landlords have pushed to end all emergency protections in L.A., where COVID-19 regulations have remained in place longer than in other parts of the country. L.A.’s city council voted to expand eviction protections ahead of the March 31 deadline, but the county’s board of supervisors recently shot down a proposal to keep certain limits in place for another year.
Where to get help: Read our in-depth guide on everything you need to know about L.A. County’s expiring COVID-19 eviction rules.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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