David Wagner
Housing Reporter
(he/him)
I cover housing in Southern California, a place where ever-rising rents and a persistent lack of affordable housing have led to many living on the edge of homelessness. I help people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis.
I grew up in Anaheim, where my parents had the car radio constantly tuned to 89.3 KPCC. Before coming to KPCC and LAist, I covered science for the NPR affiliate in San Diego, KPBS.
What questions do you have about housing in Southern California?
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Demands for high income, stellar credit and proof of payment during the pandemic have left many renters unable to find new housing. -
The decision leaves the city of L.A.’s protections in place for tenants who can’t pay rent due to COVID-19.
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Tenants have long complained that L.A. County fails to punish landlords who rent out deteriorating, unhealthy apartments. Now, that could change.
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That’s because the new law — while providing protections for rent relief applicants throughout the state — strips stronger protections from many tenants in L.A. County by superseding a new county ordinance.
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The state will stop taking new rent relief applications after March 31. If tenants don’t apply, they could soon face eviction.
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California tenants behind on their rent have until March 31 to apply for rent relief. The state will stop taking new applications in April.
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The state’s top lawyer told Pasadena it is unlawfully restricting duplexes in “landmark districts.”
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For two years, L.A. tenants have been protected from eviction over non-payment of rent. Now, county leaders are giving landlords some tax relief.
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Government aid requires tenants to apply for help. When they refuse or fail to qualify, landlords can get stuck shouldering the cost.
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Rent relief applicants were supposed to be protected from eviction. But many are getting dragged into court by their landlords.
