One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA County To Reopen COVID-Era Rent Relief For Landlords
A for rent sign is posted in front of an apartment building in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan/)
Small landlords who lost rental income during the COVID-19 pandemic will soon have another opportunity for relief. Starting Monday, landlords can apply for financial support from Los Angeles County — up to $30,000 dollars per unit.
This is the second round of the county's rent relief program, which is designed to cover past-due rent and expenses like utilities incurred between April 1, 2022.
The application window will be open starting May 20 and will close at 4:59 p.m. on June 4.
Interested landlords can register to receive a link to the application when it's available on the program's website: lacountyrentrelief.com
-
Recent rulings have struck down requirements in L.A. and Pasadena for landlords to pay thousands of dollars to tenants who couldn’t afford large rent hikes. -
This is not the first time Orange County leaders have earned the reproval of state housing regulators. -
The reforms are expected to reduce the cost of affordable housing construction in California by an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 per-unit.
The program also has a call center open Mon.-Fri. during business hours: (877) 849-0770.
Who can apply
To qualify, the property must be located in L.A. County, but outside of the city of L.A. Not sure if your property meets that criteria? Here's a tool where you can find out.
All landlords can apply, but priority will be given to those who own no more than four units.
Sponsored message
The county will also prioritize landlords and tenants in high-need areas and who make 80% or less of the area median income.
The origin of the rent relief program
The goal of the program is to prevent evictions while relieving landlords of financial burdens caused by their tenants' inability to pay rent as a result of job loss, illness or other hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial round of the program closed in January.
The program’s funding, $68.7 million, is dwarfed by prior pandemic rent relief efforts. The state of California’s earlier COVID-19 rent relief program delivered $2.7 billion to local landlords.
The city of L.A. launched its own landlord relief program last year, but applications are no longer being accepted.
Recent U.S. Census Bureau survey data show that renters in L.A. County owe a combined $374 million in debt.
How to weigh in on housing policy
For people who live in L.A., the Board of Supervisors and City Council have the most direct impact on housing in your neighborhood.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
