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LA County Landlords Dealing With COVID Losses Face Deadline To Apply For Rent Relief Funds
L.A. landlord Rich Kissel says L.A.’s COVID-19 eviction protections and rent freeze forced him to consider selling his properties.
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David Wagner
/
LAist
)
Friday is the deadline for Los Angeles County landlords to apply for rent relief through a new $69-million program aimed at clearing remaining COVID-19 tenant-related debts.
Applicants can seek up to $30,000 per tenant household through the county program’s website, LACountyRentRelief.com.
Many tenants are still carrying pandemic debts, because job loss, illness or deaths in the family made them unable to keep up with rent payments.
According to recent U.S. Census Bureau survey data, tenants in the L.A. area have a combined $898.2 million in rent debt.
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State law requires banks to offer one year of delayed mortgage payments. With that period coming to an end, Bass is asking banks to voluntarily extend relief. -
Under the reforms approved by a majority of City Council members, rent hikes would be capped at 4%, even if inflation in the overall economy runs higher. -
After their more typical wood-framed homes burned, some are now rebuilding with non-combustible materials. And they’re getting discounts from insurance companies.
The relief funding can be used to clear unpaid rent as far back as April 2022. The goal is to make financially strapped landlords whole, and prevent evictions of tenants unable to repay huge balances.
County officials say small landlords (those who own no more than four housing units) will be prioritized for help.
The program’s funding is dwarfed by earlier pandemic rent relief efforts. The state of California’s earlier COVID-19 rent relief program delivered $2.7 billion to local landlords.
Landlords cannot apply for relief on behalf of tenants living in the city of L.A. because the city is administering its own program.
Tenants also cannot apply directly to the county’s program. But they can refer the program to their landlord through the county’s website.
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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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