Evictions may be on the rise after years-long protections for renters expire.
By Milan Rafaelov editor-in-chief
Photo illustration by Milan Rafaelov
As Los Angeles ends years-long renters’ protections, tenants must repay Covid-era debts or face eviction.
Starting Feb. 1, 2024, L.A. renters must settle outstanding debts between Oct. 1, 2021, and Jan 31, 2023, or risk losing eviction protections. Simultaneously, a freeze on rent control units expires, allowing up to a 6 percent rent increase.
Of the 93,000 residents with overdue rent, about half owe three months or fewer, while others grapple with debt spanning a year or more. According to the L.A. controller's office, over 77,000 evictions were filed from February to December of 2023.
Barbara J. Schultz, director of housing justice at Legal Aid, expresses concern over the scarcity of lawyers with the expiration of tenant protections, and fears this could exacerbate L.A. 's already elevated rates of homelessness.
“The concern is that if there will be more evictions filed, tenants will not be able to find representation and they will be displaced and potentially rendered homeless,” she said in an interview with LAist.
An estimated 50 specialized eviction defense attorneys are available for Angelenos, but despite initiatives to boost legal assistance, many tenants lack representation.
“At trial, tenants without lawyers almost always lose,” said a UCLA study.
The Los Angeles City Council approved rent hikes by a 10-2 vote, on November 14, 2023, impacting nearly three-quarters of the city's rent-controlled properties.
Geza Tokes, owner of 18 rent-controlled Units in L.A., initially supported the rent freeze, considering it reasonable during the pandemic. However, significant challenges in maintaining his properties amid rising costs leaves him with limited choices.
“I’ve got to put a roof on a property in Echo Park — it's $14,000,” said Tokes to LAist. “Last winter's rains got us. It's leaking, and we put a Band-Aid on it … I want to take the roof off and get permits and do it legit. But I can't throw $14,000 down right now.
Valley’s Unity Canter offers programs like Pride Plus, Basic Needs and the Dream Resource Center to support students academically, including counseling for those facing financial challenges but eligibility for certain resources vary.
“I think we're definitely going to see an increase in our unhoused student population because I already see it a lot,” said Pride Plus Counselor Natalie Guerrero. “These laws that are being stripped are just going to aggravate everything even more. I'm hoping that we get some more guidance from the district on how to be able to help students because our local agencies are swamped.”
A recent mandate now requires that Los Angeles keep eviction records, aiding outreach to vulnerable residents. Nonprofits now use this data to assist those at risk while the Housing Department has set up a hotline for tenant support at (866) -557-7368.