In the wake of the fires that have ravaged the region and burned hundreds of houses, the city officials of Los Angeles are making efforts to prevent the eviction of certain renters.
Tuesday, members of the Los Angeles City Council voted 15-0 to direct the city attorney to develop a law that would prevent evictions for a period of one year for having extra inhabitants or unauthorized pets that were “necessitated” by the fires. The ordinance would be approved by the city attorney.
Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes the severely affected Pacific Palisades, suggested the limits in a motion that highlighted that “some impacted people and their pets are currently staying with friends and family in rental properties that may not allow pets or additional persons under current leases.” Park’s district includes the Pacific Palisades.
The council will be given the opportunity to give their final approval to the ordinance after it has been drafted by the city attorney.
Under the restrictions, tenants would be required to inform their landlord within thirty days of the ordinance going into effect about any unauthorized pets or individuals staying with them as a result of the Palisades, Eaton, or any other fire that occurred in January.
According to reports, some landlords are increasing rents above what is permitted by temporary price-gouging laws. Some officials want to go even further, citing these claims as part of their argument.
The motion that was introduced by Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez wants to put a “rent increase pause for all rental residential units through January 31, 2026.”
Additionally, the motion seeks to prohibit evictions for nonpayment of rent in the event that renters are experiencing financially or medically difficult circumstances as a result of the fires.
Concerns were raised by landlords’ associations regarding both of these moves since they are comparable to regulations that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Fred Sutton, a senior vice president with the California Apartment Association, told members of the council that property owners are eager to assist, but he referred to a policy that “goes well beyond those in immediate need and dire straits” as irresponsible. The policy in question is a rent freeze and protections against eviction for nonpayment of rent.
The contributions made by Hernandez and Soto-Martinez were not accepted; rather, they were sent to the committee for further consideration.
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An attorney working for the pro bono law company Public Counsel named Faizah Malik voiced her sadness that the city council did not approve a rent freeze and further eviction protections, but she expressed confidence that the city will give its approval in the near future.
She stated that people with low incomes that had worked in locations that were affected by the fire are now without jobs, while homeowners with relatively higher incomes have lost their homes and are making efforts to find rental housing.
“These fires have gravely exacerbated our existing countywide affordable housing and homelessness crisis,” Malik stated to council members
