As the global pandemic continues to make its impacts felt in Southern California, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to extend its temporary eviction moratorium through January 31, 2022 - just one day before protections were set to expire.
Now rebranded as the COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution, the updated policy accounts for shifting state law regarding eviction protections, and also enables property owners or their family members to move in to up to two units if it will serve as their principal residence. The latter accommodation is limited to single-family homes, condominium units, mobile homes, duplexes, and triplexes that were purchased by a property owner on or before June 30, 2021.
Other components of county-level protections enacted earlier in the pandemic have since been preempted by state law - including those preventing evictions based on nonpayment of rent for residential tenants. The County is permitted to continue enforcing protections for commercial tenants that have fallen behind on rent, however.
“Unfortunately, the County no longer has the authority to extend non-payment of rent protection to local residential tenants," said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who introduced the motion. "The motion extends non-payment of rent protections to commercial tenants, and extends limited protections to residential tenants as permitted by law. I hope that LA County residents who fell behind on their rent during the pandemic act quickly to apply for the state’s Housing is Key rent relief program in order to secure protection from eviction while the state processes the applications,”
“With the Board’s passage of the motion and the extension of COVID-19 Tenant Protections, we have a clear path forward,” said Rafael Carbajal, the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs in prepared remarks. "While some of the State’s eviction protections are slated to expire this week, it’s important to note that there are still resources available to help and rent relief continues to be available to cover up to 100 percent of past-due rent and utilities. Each situation is unique but struggling renters and property owners should reach out to us immediately to determine what protections apply and what resources are available. Call us at 800-593-8222 for more information.”
