You have rights under an order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well state, county and city laws. Under the CDC order and California state law, landlords are prohibited from evicting any tenant for not paying rent or without a valid reason. To be protected against eviction, you are required to submit a declaration form stating your inability to pay due to COVID-19 related loss of income of increased expenses. To find out more about these laws and their requirements, as well as other tenant protections in your area, click here.

Stay Housed L.A. County is a collaboration between community organizations, legal service providers, and the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to provide L.A. County renters with information about their rights as tenants. Stay Housed L.A. County is also offering free and low-cost legal assistance to tenants to help prevent evictions and keep people in their homes. For more information about your rights and to be connected with a local community organization, click here.

Emergency tenant protections have been enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state of Califonia, Los Angeles County, and many of the 88 cities within the county. Your protections will vary based on where you live.

No matter where you live, though, if you’ve lost income or have had an increase in expenses because of COVID-19 that prevents you from paying rent, you have the option of not paying. If you will be unable to pay your rent, you must submit a written declaration to your landlord. You may also want to accompany that notice with evidence of your inability to pay as providing evidence can make landlords less likely to harass you and makes any defense in court easier should your landlord try to evict you. To find out more about tenant protections in your area, click here.

*Note that rents are not cancelled, and any unpaid rent will be due 12 months after L.A. County’s emergency ordinance is lifted.