COVID-19 – Renters Alliance

County Moratorium Continues No-Fault Eviction Protection (Except for Landlord Use)

July 17, 2022 Mark Elliot COVID-19, LA County eviction moratorium

Beverly Hills rent-stabilized households lost an important eviction protection when the moratorium expired: starting June 1st a tenancy could be terminated for redevelopment, remodeling, condo conversion, or any reason enumerated in the Beverly Hills rent stabilization ordinance. Households that rent a single-family home or condominium in Beverly Hills have it worse: they can be evicted for any reason or no reason at all with only 60 days notice. These households generally have no protection under local or state law. However the Los Angeles County moratorium does put such no-fault evictions on hold through December of 2022 although with one caveat: landlords can still move-in a relative. Let’s take a closer look at the county moratorium protection.

News

RSO Commission Recommends Moratorium on Eviction for Nonpayment to End

August 10, 2021July 5, 2024 Mark Elliot COVID-19, eviction moratorium, Rent Stabilization Commission

The Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Commission has recommended that city council sunset our local moratorium’s prohibition on eviction for nonpayment as soon as September 30th. The recommendation was suggested by the Apartment Owners Association and supported by landlord representatives on the commission and it passed by a vote of 4-2. If city council agreed then we could see local tenant protections end as soon as Sacramento decides to sunset its own moratorium. Will the commission follow with a recommendation to end the prohibition on rent increases and no-fault evictions too?

News

More County Tenant Protections: Unauthorized Occupants and Buyouts

January 30, 2021July 5, 2024 Mark Elliot COVID-19, Los Angeles County

County of Los Angeles Supervisors in early January adopted a resolution that provide tenants with new protections during the COVID pandemic emergency. In addition to limiting landlord access except in cases of emergency and protecting tenants from harassment, the Supervisors have expanded the county rental assistance program too. But there’s more: protection for unauthorized occupants and from pressure to accept a cash-for-keys buyout. Let’s take a look!

News

LA County Protects Tenants from Non-Emergency Landlord Entry [Updated]

January 30, 2021April 10, 2022 Mark Elliot COVID-19, LA County eviction moratorium, Los Angeles County, unit entry

Los Angeles County in January of 2021 enacted a COVID moratorium provision to protect a tenant from eviction for denying the landlord, or his agent, entry to the premises, when the purpose of that entry is neither related to an emergency or health and safety. Until May 31st that county protection remains in place and it does apply to all Beverly Hills tenants. Moreover, if the landlord harasses a tenant for the purpose of entry that too is an affirmative defense against eviction. Let’s take a closer look at this important but little-known tenant protection.

Explainer

Beverly Hills COVID-19 Rent Subsidy Round 1: What You Need to Know

November 16, 2020July 5, 2024 Mark Elliot COVID-19, COVID-19 rent subsidy

Beverly Hills city council in September agreed to create a $1 million rent subsidy program to help COVID–19 affected tenants in the city pay the rent. The objective of the program is to provide a measure of stability to tenants in their moment of need. The program is also intended to benefit landlords by providing rental income that might otherwise be delayed due to COVID–19. But the devil is in the details. Here’s how it works.

News

California Courts Again Are Open for Eviction Proceedings

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 Mark Elliot COVID-19, eviction moratorium

Tenants who may have viewed the Superior Court’s pause on evictions as a backstop to our local eviction moratorium should know that eviction cases (and filings) will proceed as of September 1st. An amended rule by the court’s Judicial Council on August 13th imposes a sunset clause on its Emergency rule #1 promulgated in April to pause evictions. It may sound arcane but it augurs some pain for tenants who are at risk of displacement during the pandemic.

Commentary

Renters Alliance Position on Mandatory Rent Repayment Plans: A Bad Idea!

May 5, 2020August 4, 2022 Mark Elliot COVID-19, eviction moratorium

City council will discuss modifying the urgency ordinance to possibly implement something like a mandatory rent-repayment plan for tenants who seek forbearance of rent due to COVID-19 emergency measures. No other major California city imposes the requirement as a condition for assistance because it means committing the tenant to an additional monthly financial obligation (on top of the regular rent) at a time when economic uncertainty is at its highest. Here are the points I made to city council.

News

City Council Tweaks the COVID-19 Emergency Regulations

April 28, 2020July 5, 2024 Mark Elliot COVID-19, Julian Gold, urgency ordinance

Beverly Hills city council adopted a new urgency ordinance at the April 21st meeting making several changes to several emergency measures related to COVID–19. The amendments are part of council’s continuing refinement to the city’s response (to which we gave an A grade). Here we review those changes with specific focus on measures that affect tenants.

Commentary

Property Maintenance in the Era of COVID: Cleanliness Matters!

April 28, 2020July 31, 2020 Mark Elliot 212 S Reeves, AAGLA, CAA, Carole Hoffman, COVID-19, Essential management, maintenance

Residential rental dwellings must be fit for human habitation and free from ‘dilapidations,’ says California Civil Code section 1941. In part that means “all areas under control of the landlord, kept in every part clean, sanitary, and free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents, and vermin.” Not a high bar! But not all landlords live up to that standard and during the COVID-19 pandemic we may see some landlords shirk their responsibility.

Commentary

Tenant Advocates Spring Into Action with a Call for Rent Relief

April 17, 2020September 18, 2023 Mark Elliot CARES Act, COVID-19, Mark Elliot, rent relief, rent strike

Renters Alliance sees the COVID-19 relief promised to taxpayers and businesses as wanting. Taxpayers get a one-time payment of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child and some who need it won’t even get it. But businesses (including apartment landlords) already get plenty of tax breaks and now they’ll get more while small landlords lose out. If tenants and landlords can agree on one thing it is that providing relief to tenants will provide relief to landlords too.

News

CARES Act: An Emergency Assist From Congress for Some Landlords

April 16, 2020April 18, 2023 Mark Elliot CARES Act, COVID-19, NAA

Congress in March passed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) which extended unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and granted a ‘recovery rebate’ of $1,200 to qualified taxpayers. But there was A LOT more in that federal bag o’ treats, and many — but not all — multifamily housing owners in Beverly Hills may benefit. Let’s take a look at Washington’s largess and the multifamily housing industry’s opportunities for relief under the CARES Act of 2020.

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Explainer

My Landlord is Asking for an Estoppel. Need I Sign It?

July 16, 2024July 29, 2024 Mark Elliot

An estoppel certificate is a legal document that simply establishes the terms and status of a rental agreement (or lease) for a third party like a prospective buyer. Typically a tenant is asked to complete an estoppel when purchase negotiations advance and that request may come from the current owner or an agent working on behalf of a prospective buyer. It is nothing to fear; it is a standard step in the sale of real property. In any case the lease or rental agreement may require the tenant to complete it. When presented with an estoppel to complete and sign you may have questions. Here is what you need to know.

Explainer