Important Dates for Renters
On August 1st, 2023 all COVID rent debt accrued from March 1, 2020 through September 30th, 2021 is due in full.
On February 1st, 2024 all COVID rent debt accrued from October 1st, 2021 to January 31st, 2023, is due in full.
Make sure you secure a receipt for any and all payments made toward rent debt.
Renter Rights in L.A. City
In January 2023, City Council passed the strongest tenant protections in more than 40 years in the City of Los Angeles. Learn more about your rights as a renter:
PROTECTIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL RENT INCREASES
Annual rent increases for rental units subject to the City of L.A.’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) are prohibited through January 31, 2024.
If you receive an illegal rent increase please report it to LAHD and contact our office at Councilmember.Hernandez@lacity.org or 213-473-7001.
UNIVERSAL JUST CAUSE
All units in the City of L.A. now officially have “just cause” protections, meaning a landlord cannot evict a tenant without declaring a cause from a designated list.
In non-RSO units, these protections kick in after six months or at the end of the first lease term, whichever comes first. If you’ve already been in your apartment for six months today, you’re protected.
PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS WITH PETS & UNAUTHORIZED OCCUPANTS
Your landlord CANNOT evict you for adding an additional person or pet to your household during the COVID-19 pandemic, or through January 31, 2024.
THRESHOLD FOR EVICTION
City Council approved a minimum threshold for evictable rent debt, which means tenants who owe less than one month of rent cannot be evicted.
The threshold is one month Fair Market Rent – currently $1,747 for one-bedroom units and $2,222 for two-bedroom units in Los Angeles. Please refer to LAHD’s website for more information.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
Tenants who receive a rent increase of more than 10% within 12 months and are unable to afford the rent increase have the option to receive relocation assistance to move out of their rental unit.
This means that if landlords enact large rent increases – raising rent by more than 10% in a year or by the current level of inflation plus 5%, whichever is lower – they must pay relocation assistance equal to three months fair market rent plus moving fees to tenants. The relocation amount is based on the bedroom size of the rental unit.
PROTECTIONS NOTICE
All landlords of residential properties must provide a Notice of Renters’ Protections to tenants who begin or renew their tenancy. This notice must also be posted in an accessible common area of the property.
Click HERE to download the Protections Notice.
FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDLORDS
For all “at-fault” evictions, landlords must file with LAHD within three business days, including stating legal reasons for eviction.
For all "no-fault" evictions, landlords must file with LAHD, submit required fees, and pay the tenant relocation assistance.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY’s COVID-19 RENTER PROTECTIONS