The California Apartment Association has published materials to help landlords abide by a new “just cause” for eviction ordinance in the city of Los Angeles.
The new “just cause” ordinance applies to most units in the city that are not already regulated by the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). The new law also includes a requirement that landlords pay relocation assistance to a tenant if the renter decides to move out after receiving a rent increase for more than a specific amount.
Despite vigorous protest from CAA, the city passed these draconian laws that override and go further than the current AB 1482 just cause protections provided for under state law. The new policy requires enumerated reasons for an eviction to proceed, and some elements differ dramatically from 1482, such as the amount of relocation assistance required in some instances and the one-year vetting period before the law becomes applicable, which has been reduced to a maximum of six months but can apply earlier depending on the terms of the tenancy. This law applies to properties built in the previous 15 years and to single-family homes.
While the just cause ordinance as originally enacted went into effect on Jan. 27, two troubling provisions have since been added to the law and will take effect March 27, 2023:
Rental debt threshold
Beginning March 27, 2023, a tenant may only be evicted for nonpayment of rent if the tenant’s total rental debt owed exceeds a monetary threshold amount equal to one month of fair market rent for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Area (FMR), set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This limitation will also apply to RSO units beginning March 27.
Rent relocation trigger
Also starting on March 27, 2023, landlords will be required to pay relocation assistance to tenants if the tenant chooses to move after receiving a rent increase exceeding the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 5%.
CAA is evaluating next steps and opportunities to challenge or change these misguided policies.
Resources
CAA’s Industry Insight compliance materials for the city of L.A.’s newly imposed just cause eviction law for non-RSO units are availably through the links below:
