As of April 1, 2023 there are no more COVID-19 rental protections for rent in Los Angeles. To prevent eviction, you must pay your rent each month if you can.
The following protections still exist:
- Protections for Rent Owed Before 3/31/23: Residential tenants who qualified for the County’s COVID nonpayment protections (and notified their landlord with a declaration) between July 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 have up to March 31, 2024 to repay that rental debt. A tenant may use this protection to defend against an eviction filed for not repaying rent debt before March 31, 2024, not complying with the terms of a payment plan, or at the end of the repayment period. Any term in a payment plan that allows eviction due to the tenant's failure to comply with the terms of the payment plan is void as contrary to public policy. For the duration of the repayment period, tenants continue to have the County’s just cause eviction protections that existed prior to March 31, 2023.
- Rent Cap for Unincorporated LA: Rents for units that are fully covered by the County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance cannot be raised more than 3% annually before December 31, 2023.
- Housing of Unauthorized Pets/Occupants: Tenants with unauthorized pets and/or occupants who began living in the unit between March 1, 2020, and January 20, 2023 are and whose presence was necessitated by COVID-19 are protected. A tenant that meets these criteria may not be evicted for the unauthorized pets or occupants before March 31, 2023. After March 31, 2023, tenants must receive a 30-day notice to correct the violation before they can be evicted based on the continuing presence of the pet/unauthorized occupant.
Note: Under State law, landlords are not permitted to evict a tenant for rent owed for certain months during the COVID pandemic.
For rent that was owed from:
- March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020: Tenants who responded to a 15-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit with an attached declaration can never be evicted for not paying that rent.
- September 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021: Tenants who responded to a 15-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit with an attached declaration and paid 25% of the rent for these 13 months before September 30, 2021 can never be evicted for not paying that rent.
While tenants can’t be evicted, they tenants are still responsible for their unpaid debt and can be sued in small claims or civil court.
How to Stay Housed
To be protected against eviction for not paying rent, you must:
- Notify your landlord that you are experiencing COVID-19-related hardship and cannot pay your rent within 7 days of the rent due date. If possible, you should accompany your written notification with proof that supports your claim, but it is not required under the law.
- Pay past due rent before the end of any applicable “grace period."
You also have a defense to eviction if you applied for rental assistance before March 31, 2022, and still have a pending application with the state rental assistance program. You can check your application status here.
The County encourages landlords and tenants to agree to a repayment plan, but we recommend you seek legal help before entering into any such plan. The order explicitly bans landlords and their agents from harassing or intimidating tenants based on these issues.
If you’ve received a notice from the court, or from your landlord, it’s important you immediately connect with a legal service provider who can confirm your rights based on where you live and help you respond to the court notice and keep you in your home.
For help completing the legal referral form, call 1-888-694-0040.
What If My Landlord is Harassing Me?
Threatening or harassing tenants is illegal. If you are experiencing threats or harassment, do not move out of your home until a court orders you to! Sign up for a free workshop to learn more about emergency protections and your rights and get connected to resources that can keep you in your home.
For information about L.A. County's COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution, visit dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions