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COVID-19 Emergency Renter Protections

COVID-19 emergency protections are still in place for all City of Los Angeles renters.

While many of the State’s eviction protections ended on September 30, 2021, the City of Los Angeles still has local renter protections in effect. 

City of L.A. Renter Information

If you receive an eviction notice, do not leave your home. We have City staff, community partners, and legal service providers ready to help.

  • Legal assistance: Please visit StayHousedLA.org to learn more about your rights and get connected to free legal assistance or call 1-888-694-0040.
  • Financial assistance: If you have missed rent or are worried about not being able to pay rent in the future, assistance is available from the City and State. To apply for rental and utility assistance, visit HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122.  

City of L.A. Landlord information

  • Rights and Responsibilities: Landlords have rights and responsibilities under the law. To learn more, visit Housing.LACity.org or call 1-866-557-7368
  • Financial assistance: The City in partnership with the State are offering financial assistance to landlords who have not received rent during the eviction moratorium. To apply for rental and utility assistance, visit HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122.

Rental Assistance Application Information

  • The City in partnership with the State are offering financial assistance to landlords who have not received rent during the eviction moratorium. To apply for rental and utility assistance, visit HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122.
  • If you already applied for rental assistance with the City of Los Angeles in spring of 2021, visit Housing.LACity.org to check the status of your application and learn more about next steps. 
  • If you applied through the State’s “Housing is Key” program, you can view your application status here or by calling 1- 833-430-2122. If you applied through the City’s program in the spring of 2021, you can view your status here. 

FAQs 

What should I do if I receive an eviction notice from my landlord because I missed rent?
  • If you receive an eviction notice, please do not move out of your home without first seeking help to understand your options. COVID-19 renter protections and emergency rental assistance may be available.
  • If you have missed rent due to COVID-19, or if you expect to miss rent in the near future, it is important to apply for emergency rental assistance as soon as possible.* The State program is free and pays eligible renters and landlords up to 18-months of past-due rent going as far back as April 1, 2020. You can apply at HousingIsKey.com or get support by calling 1-833-430-2122. The program is open to low-income renters, regardless of immigration status.
  • If you have already applied for assistance, it will be helpful to have proof of your completed application available. If you applied through the State’s “Housing is Key” program, you can view your application status here or by calling 1-833-430-2122. If you applied through the City’s program in the spring of 2021, you can view your status here. It is recommended that you notify your landlord that you have applied for rental assistance, as this can help you in both eviction and rental debt collection lawsuits.
  • If you receive an eviction notice (non-payment of rent due to financial distress related to COVID-19, no-fault eviction, presence of unauthorized occupants or pets, or nuisance related to COVID-19), you are encouraged to contact the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to review the notice by filing a complaint with the Investigation and Enforcement Unit at housing.lacity.org or call 1-866-557-7368.
  • Get more information on your rights as a renter and access to free legal services by visiting StayHousedLA.org or calling 1-888-694-0040.
  • You can also learn more about City of L.A. emergency protections at Housing.LACity.org or by calling 1-866-557-RENT. Emergency protections for the City of Los Angeles will remain in place as long as there is a Declaration of Local Emergency, which does not have an end date at this time.
  • It is important that you seek help and do not ignore any eviction notice or lawsuit. Remember that you are not alone. City staff, community partners, and legal service providers are ready to help.

*In order to take advantage of State protections starting October 1, 2021, a renter must apply for rental assistance within 15 business days of receiving a pay or quit notice, or within 15 business days of receiving a notice from the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program that your landlord has started an application on your behalf.

What happens if I cannot pay my rent?
  • You should pay rent if you are able. However, if you are experiencing COVID-19 financial stress and cannot pay rent, you may have protections under the State law AB832 as well as the City of Los Angeles’ emergency renter protection ordinance, which remains in place as long as there is a Declaration of Local Emergency in the City.
  • Get more detail on your rights as a renter and access to free legal services by visiting StayHousedLA.org or calling 1-888-694-0040.
I applied for rental assistance, but my payment is still being processed. Can I be evicted starting October 1, 2021?
  • In a scenario where you are simply waiting for the City or State to process your rental assistance, you cannot be evicted or sued for back rent.
  • Under State law AB832, a landlord is not able to evict or sue a tenant for rent owed between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022, unless the rental assistance application is actually denied.
  • Even with these protections, it is important that you do not ignore a notice and seek help from City staff, community partners, and legal service providers. Get more information on your rights as a renter and access to free legal services by visiting StayHousedLA.org or calling 1-888-694-0040.
  • If you are a renter who applied through the State’s “Housing is Key” program, you can view your application status here or by calling 1- 833-430-2122. If you applied through the City’s program in the spring of 2021, you can view your status here. Be aware that renters can only receive up to 18 months of assistance under federal law.
What if I am not eligible for rental assistance because I earn more than 80% of the Area Median Income. What protections apply to me?
  • State and City eviction protections may still apply to over-income tenants, even if they do not qualify for emergency renters assistance.
  • Tenants can learn more about City of L.A. emergency protections at Housing.LACity.org or by calling 1-866-557-7368. Information about the State’s renter protections are available at HousingIsKey.com.
I applied for emergency rental assistance and my landlord was paid, but I still owe more in back rent. What should I do?
  • Depending on when your payment was processed and the details of your application, you may be eligible for additional assistance. Get access to additional help by applying at HousingIsKey.com. You can also get support with completing your application by calling 1-833-430-2122. Under the current federal law, renters can receive up to 18 months of emergency assistance. 
  • If you originally applied for rental assistance with the City of Los Angeles, visit Housing.LACity.org to check the status of your application and learn more about next steps.
How do the City’s protections relate to a landlord's ability to pursue rent owned in small claims court starting November 1, 2021?
  • The City’s ordinance is focused on eviction protection. A landlord cannot evict a tenant as long as the deferred rent is paid within 12 months of the City lifting the emergency – or by May 1, 2023 – whichever date is earlier. However, a tenant may be taken to civil or small claims court before the deadline, and a landlord may seek a judgment against them for the amount of rent owed. Currently, under the State’s law, the earliest the landlord can file a claim for rental debt is November 1, 2021. A landlord may be able to collect on a judgment against a tenant through wage garnishment or other legal means of debt collection. However, a judgment saying a tenant owes rent is not sufficient to evict them under City protections. Tenants should never ignore a notice or lawsuit and should seek help by visiting StayHousedLA.org or calling 1-888-694-0040.
If I am still unable to pay rent, do I have to submit a COVID-19 hardship notification every month to my landlord to take advantage of City of Los Angeles protections?
  • As a tenant, you do not have to return a declaration of COVID-19 hardship to be protected under the City’s law. But tenants are encouraged to notify their landlord and keep copies of all of their communication, because that might help them in being protected by State law. The notification form also gives the landlord notice that the tenant is protected and might deter the landlord from seeking to evict the tenant.
  • Sample City forms are available at Housing.LACity.org and State forms at  HousingIsKey.com.

Additional Resources

  • Learn about the relationship between City of L.A. and State protections at the City Attorney’s website: LACityAttorney.org/Tenant-Protections.
  • Check whether you live in the City of L.A. or the County of L.A. by visiting NeighborhoodInfo.LACity.org.
  • Check whether you live in a rent stabilized unit and are eligible for additional protections by texting “RSO” to 1-855-880-7368.
  • For additional information about the City's efforts to address housing insecurity and protect L.A. renters, visit LAMayor.org.

The City of Los Angeles provides this material for general informational purposes only. The information provided here does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. You should contact a licensed attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. Only your individual attorney can provide assurances that the information contained here, including your interpretation of it, is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, the resources contained here do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, user, or browser and the authors or contributors. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the information provided is hereby expressly disclaimed. The content provided “as is;” no representations are made that the content is error-free.