AB 2179 extends notice requirements and eviction procedures originally enacted by the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act and Recovery Act enacted in 2020. These notices are only for non-payment of rent and does not restrict local government, like LA County from its no-fault eviction restrictions.
AB 2179 changes notice requirements for rent due between October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Notices must contain specific language provided for in AB 2179.
Landlords can proceed with notices for non-payment rent in LA County but not in LA City, for non-payment for rent due April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 so long as the notice contains the specific language provided for in AB 2179. Landlords do not have to apply for rental assistance for rent due between April 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022.
WHY NOT THE CITY OF LA
The City of LA has its own stricter restrictions that trump the state rules. Under the City of LA moratorium tenants have 12 months to repay the rent thus you cannot proceed to evict until that 12 months period is expired. On October 19, 2021, the city ruled to keep the protections in place. In the modified moratorium it provided that the repayment period would begin when the local emergency ended. However, CTRA, when first enacted provided that no repayment period can extend beyond May 31, 2023. HOWEVER, this has now been extended by AB 2179 to August 31, 2023.
IF I CAN NOT EVICT WHAT CAN I DO?
A tenant may be taken to civil or small claims court before the deadline, and a landlord may seek a judgment against them for the amount of rent owed. Currently, under the State’s law, the earliest the landlord can file a claim for rental debt is November 1, 2021. A landlord may be able to collect on a judgment against a tenant through wage garnishment or other legal means of debt collection. However, a judgment saying a tenant owes rent is not sufficient to evict them under City protections. Tenants should never ignore a notice or lawsuit and should seek help by visiting StayHousedLA.org or calling 1-888-694-0040.