Eviction protection for those affected by wildfires up for LA County Board of Supervisors vote
Low-income renters who have lost their jobs or are otherwise affected by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County could get protection from evictions for not paying their rent.
Under a proposed resolution from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, tenants who qualify could stay in their apartment or rented house for up to 12 months without making rent payments.
The rental protection resolution will be taken up Tuesday, Feb. 18, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors meeting, held at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration board room, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.
Under the county’s wildfire emergency, the rental protection would be in place throughout L.A. County, should it be adopted.
Previous tenant protection measures include: raising the penalty for price-gouging of rental rates to a maximum of $50,000 and stepping up enforcement, supporting a legislation for statewide rent freeze and establishing a countywide $32 million fund to support residents who’ve lost their homes, businesses or jobs due to the January wildfires.
As a result of the Eaton and Palisades fires, more than 16,000 structures were destroyed, many of them residential units. This sent thousands of additional households into what is one of the tightest, and most expensive rental markets in the nation.
Also, 20,000 businesses and 125,000 employees have been displaced or otherwise impacted. In addition, the fires left landscapers, day laborers, housecleaners and child caregivers without work throughout L.A. County, the motion reported.
While workers can apply for unemployment insurance and emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it can take time to receive these benefits, the county reported.
“But more must be done quickly to protect people from falling into homelessness,” read the motion authored by Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, entitled: “Keeping Wildfire Impacted Workers Housed.”
Under the proposed resolution, qualified tenants would be protected from eviction between Feb. 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026. The tenant must have been financially impacted by the wildfires and must have a 2024 household income equal to or less than 150% of the Area Median Income; be enrolled in or have applied to a wildfire relief program and applied for unemployment benefits or other qualifying income assistance programs.
The tenant’s loss of monthly income must be at least 10%. If a tenant’s income was lost due to their workplace being destroyed by the fires, the lost income qualifies as a resulting economic impact. Rental debt incurred as a result is a defense to an unlawful detainer action, the motion states.
So far, Horvath’s motion has prompted eight written comments in support and 69 written comments in opposition. More public comments are expected on Tuesday.
“The county must take bold steps to protect the most vulnerable tenants. This is NOT a bold step but it’s a start,” wrote Rose Lenehan.
Jeremy A. Fuster wrote of the spreading ripples of the devastating wildfires from Jan. 7:
“This motion will give so many housekeepers, childcare workers and gardeners who worked in the homes destroyed by the wildfires a lifeline to avoid ending up on the streets and has guardrails to avoid fraud.”
Those in opposition argued that landlords already must absorb higher insurance premiums and increased maintenance costs and can’t afford to lose income from non-paying tenants.
“We (landlords) cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of covering delayed rent payments, interest, or other legitimate costs associated with late rent for an entire year,” wrote Claire Kim.
“People must be accountable to their contractual agreements. If they can’t pay they need to leave,” wrote Coral Sandoval-Eldred. “If an owner wants to allow them to stay without paying, then it should be their own decision.”
If approved, the motion will return for a second vote on Feb. 25.