Los Angeles City Council moves to ban some evictions during fire emergency

Los Angeles city officials are seeking to protect some tenants from eviction after fires ravaged the area and destroyed thousands of homes.

Los Angeles City Council members voted 15-0 on Tuesday to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would prevent evictions for one year from additional occupants or unauthorized pets “required” by fires.

Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes hard-hit Pacific Palisades, proposed the rules in a motion that noted “some of the people and their pets affected Currently living with friends and family in rental properties that may not allow pets or additional people under their current lease.”

Once the city attorney drafts the ordinance, it will return to the City Council for final approval.

Under the regulations, tenants are required to notify landlords of any unauthorized pets or people living with them within 30 days of the ordinance taking effect due to the Palisades, Eaton or other January fires.

Some officials want to go further, in part because of reports that some landlords are raising rents beyond what temporary price-gouging protections allow.

Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez filed a motion to ban rent-a-household housing where tenants face financial or medical hardship as a result of a fire. cases of eviction for non-payment of rent and “suspended rent increases for all rental residential units until January 31, 2026.” ”

Both actions are similar to rules put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and have raised concerns among landlord groups.

Fred Sutton, senior vice president of the California Apartment Association, told council members that landlords stand ready to help, but called the rent freeze and non-payment eviction protections irresponsible policies that “go far beyond those who desperately need it” Scope of helping and distressed people”.

Hernandez and Soto-Martinez's proposal was not approved and was referred to the committee.

Faizah Malik, an attorney at public interest law firm Public Counsel, expressed disappointment that the City Council did not sign on to the rent freeze and further eviction protections, but hopes the city will sign on soon.

Low-income families who worked in burn areas are now out of work, while relatively well-off homeowners have lost their homes and are looking for rentals, she said.

“These fires severely exacerbate our existing countywide affordable housing and homelessness crisis,” Malik told council members.