While the COVID-19 health crisis is apparently in the rear-view mirror after authorities claimed that the pandemic was over, struggles still remain for those suffering not only the ongoing health effects but also the financial impact that still remains.
While the name changed from the LA County Eviction Moratorium to the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution, an initiative started in March 2020, the overall framework gave certain protections to residential and commercial tenants and mobile home residents impacted by the worldwide health crisis.
The end of protections create uncertainty
The resolution came to an end on March 31, 2023. The following day, regular rent payments resumed to keep roofs over heads. However, anti-harassment and retaliation protections are still considerations. However, on that same day, landlords are mandated to serve their tenants with written 30-day notices before they can file an eviction based on unauthorized occupants or pets on the premises.
Income-qualified tenants who took steps to contact their landlord and inform them of their inability to pay rent within seven days of the due date have 12 months to repay past-due balances, provided that there are no extenuating circumstances.
Additional options may exist and include:
- For those who deferred rent between July 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, via the county-sponsored non-payment of rent protection that may allow them to continue residing in their dwellings for “no-fault” reasons
- Unincorporated Los Angeles County’s Rent Stabilization Program and Tenant Protections Ordinance, combined with the Mobilehome Rent Stabilization and Owner Protections Ordinance, places restrictions on rent increases and provides protections on evictions, except for those with “just cause” for more rental properties and mobile homes.
- More incorporated cities have added permanent protections, along with coverage from the State of California’s Tenant Protections Act of 2019, restricting rent increases and mandating just cause evictions.
In the end, an eviction notice does not necessarily mean that you should pack up and move. Instead, you should take action. Various resources exist to help rental dwellers not only understand but also assert their rights.