The official end date for eviction moratoriums has been looming for some time. When I last wrote on the subject, the end of this year was projected. Los Angeles City Council recently voted to end the moratoriums for non-payment of rent on Jan. 31, 2023. Now, it looks like there’s a chance that may even be moved up pending the outcome of an injunction granted to landlord groups in federal court. A lot of things are still changing, but here’s a mini update on what you’ll want to know, and how landlords and tenants alike can help themselves out of this mess!  

While Los Angeles City Council plans to end the eviction moratoriums by February 2023, it appears that there’s a chance that the date may change at the end of this year. That being said, the bulk of what is currently in that plan will likely remain. Under the proposed plan, there would be two deadlines for the repayment of unpaid rent. Rent missed from March 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021, must be repaid by Aug. 1, 2023. Back rent spanning from  Oct. 1, 2021, to Feb. 1, 2023, must be repaid by Feb. 1, 2024.  

Landlords will also be able to resume regular rent increases in rent-controlled units once the moratorium is officially lifted. The city will provide relocation assistance for no-fault evictions. These are most commonly used when the owner intends to occupy the unit themselves, or for a family member, who doesn’t want to rent the unit anymore, or in the event of a major remodel lasting longer than 30 days. The city also appears to be continuing protections for unauthorized pets for possibly another year.

The bigger story is that once the moratorium is officially over, and perhaps just before or almost simultaneously, the city of Los Angeles plans to change the eviction rules to adhere to “just cause” rules for eviction. For example, under current rules, tenants can only be evicted for nonpayment of rent and for unauthorized persons living in the unit. They are something that all parties involved need to be aware of, but for now, the attention is on what will happen with the amount of debt some tenants and small landlords face in the wake of pandemic-related issues. 

These parties are certainly capable of avoiding the mess, stress, expense, and long wait times to get answers and clarity in court. It will require some level of cooperation from both sides, which will be difficult, But it is important to remember that neither landlord nor the tenant asked for this to happen to them. Both have to understand that flexibility and setting realistic expectations will help them get closer to resolutions. Maybe that looks like the tenant moving to a more affordable situation if possible, or offsetting some costs to free up a little money to help chip away at rental debt over time. For the landlord, it is important to be flexible in accepting smaller amounts of money at a time, rather than large lump sum payments. It is simply not realistic for the average tenant to come up with some of these sums all at once. It would be much wiser for both parties to confront this head-on, but with some flexibility towards each other to create a solution that is sustainable and effective, rather than ending up dealing with the court, judgments, garnishments, and all the associated costs and stress.

Mediation can help facilitate this conversation and create a real agreement between the parties!