Housing Justice
Holding California Accountable for Its Failures in Implementing the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
Case Overview
Clients
Legal Team
Managing Attorney
Managing Attorney
President & CEO‚ Helen & Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair
Co-Counsel
In January 2023, The Los Angeles City Council passed permanent tenant protections to help thousands of Angeleno renters stay in their homes and prevent them from falling into homelessness. The protections were passed to safeguard renters’ housing security as COVID eviction protections were set to expire.
The new ordinances include the Nonpayment Threshold Ordinance, which prohibits evictions based on nonpayment unless the tenant is behind at least one month’s fair market rent, and the Relocation Assistance for Economic Displacement Ordinance, which requires landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants forced to leave due to a significant rent increase. Thanks to these protections, Angelenos can no longer be Evicted for being a few dollars short on rent, nor will they be forced to move due to exorbitant rent increases Eithout also receiving support for moving and relocation expenses.
Filing
In March 2023, the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) filed a legal action seeking to overturn the ordinances. The challenge is yet another attempt by AAGLA to undermine critical common-sense tenant protections in Los Angeles so that landlords can more easily evict tenants or use rent increases to force tenants to self-evict.
In April 2023, tenant rights groups InnerCity Struggle (ICS) and Community Power Collective (CPC) filed paperwork to intervene and join the City of Los Angeles in the defense of the protections. Public Counsel, Bet Tzedek, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), and Susman Godfrey LLP are the attorneys for ICS and CPC – organizations that represent thousands of low-income tenants who are still struggling to recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic. In May 2023, Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted the motion to intervene.
Order
In May 2023, the Court denied a motion from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) for a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of the two renter protection ordinances.
It is vital that tenants in Los Angeles—especially those not protected by the city’s rent stabilization ordinance—are safeguarded against eviction, homelessness, and displacement. Many households have not recovered from the economic impact of the pandemic, with an estimated one-third of households unable to afford rent. There is concern that without the City’s strengthened renter protections, a new wave of evictions and homelessness will occur.
Ruling
Update: January 17, 2024 – Judge Mitchell Beckloff has denied the petitioner’s legal challenge, finding that the City of L.A.’s tenant protection ordinances are both well within the limits set by state law. If AAGLA appeals the ruling, the ordinances will remain in effect during court proceedings. For more info, see the press release here.
Case Developments
Filing
03/03/2023
AAGLA Files Petition for Writ of Mandate
Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory Relief
Order
03/03/2023
Court Denies Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Judge Mitchell Beckloff denied a motion from AAGLA for a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of L.A.’s renter protection ordinances.
Order Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Hearing
11/08/2023
Hearing on the Petition for Writ of Mandate
City of LA – Opposition to Petition for Writ of Mandate
Intervenors’ Opposition to Opening Brief
Declaration of Silvia Anguiano ISO Intervenors
Declaration of Takeyshia Flemings ISO Intervenors
Ruling
03/03/2023
Order Denying Petition for Writ of Mandate
Judge Mitchell Beckloff denied AAGLA’s legal challenge, finding that the City of L.A.’s tenant protection ordinances are both well within the limits set by state law.
Press Releases
Press Release
01/23/24
Tenants Win Big in Court Decision Upholding New LA Renter Protections
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