Eviction Defense & Tenant Advocacy

IMPORTANT: If you have received an eviction notice (Unlawful Detainer), you must respond within 10 days (Saturday and Sunday do not count toward the 10 days). Please do not allow this deadline to pass!

Public Counsel is part of Stay Housed L.A., an initiative to provide the residents of L.A. County with information and resources to keep people in their homes. To determine if you are eligible for legal assistance, please click “Get Started” and fill out the form on its website.

Additionally, if your eviction action was filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, you may be eligible for assistance through The Shriver Housing Project—info here.

Tenants facing eviction in Los Angeles need legal representation to address the power imbalance in eviction court, prevent homelessness, and promote community stability. Currently, a vast majority of tenants facing eviction lack legal representation, while landlords almost always have legal counsel, leading to disproportionately high eviction rates for tenants. Public Counsel’s Eviction Defense team provides tenants with critical legal assistance, helping them understand their rights, navigate complex procedures, and fight unfair or unnecessary evictions. By keeping tenants securely housed, we help prevent homelessness and promote stable, healthy communities.

 We also advocate for tenants to prevent eviction filings, preserve housing, and improve housing conditions. We address violations of health and safety standards, landlord harassment, and illegal rent increases, as well as advocate for tenants with disabilities through reasonable accommodation requests.