COVID-19 UPDATE: Los Angeles Mayor Orders Rent Freeze

On Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that landlords would not be allowed to increase the rent for about 624,000 apartments that fall under the city’s rent stabilization program. Single-family rentals and most newer apartments, neither of which are subject to rent control under state law, will remain unaffected by Garcetti’s executive order. Any rent increases planned for April 1 at apartments covered by the order are void, a Garcetti spokesman confirmed.

On Friday, the L.A. City Council approved a temporary ban on evictions for renters who are unable to pay rent because of the virus.The council also waived late fees and allowed renters to make up late payments for up to 12 months for residential tenants and 3 months for commercial tenants after emergency orders are lifted.. Council members, however, rejected a blanket ban on all evictions during the pandemic, and all back rent must still be paid.

The mayor also announced tonight that he had signed new renter protections passed Friday by the Los Angeles City Council, which include extending the amount of time Angelenos who have been impacted by COVID-19 have to pay back their rent—now 12 months for residential tenants and 3 months for commercial tenants.

Source: The LA Times

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