Tuesday brings forth a critical deadline for Los Angeles renters, marking the date by which they must pay back rent accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This due date has sparked concerns among tenant advocates who worry about a potential surge in homelessness amid the ongoing housing crisis in the city.
The Aug 1 deadline covers rent for the first year and a half of the pandemic period. With many renters expressing their inability to pay thousands of dollars within the 24-hour lead time, fears of eviction are rising. Meanwhile, landlords argue that they have been waiting for these payments for 18 months and cannot afford further delays.
Tenant advocates are pushing for a comprehensive eviction plan to prevent an increase in homelessness. “Wages are not comparable to the rents,” stated one tenant during a rally. “We are going to have many more unhoused if we don’t have a permanent eviction plan in place.”
To address these concerns, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will hold a press conference on Monday to discuss the rights of both landlords and tenants and to outline available resources for renters unable to pay their back rent in full by Tuesday.
The mayor’s spending plan, which includes $18 million for short-term emergency assistance programs and $23 million for legal representation, will also be highlighted during the conference.
Legal experts contend that landlords’ options are limited. Landlord and tenant attorney Raymond Hovsepian explained, “The most that the landlords can do is take their claim to Small Claims Court and ask that the tenants pay the debts as normal consumer debts, and not grounds for eviction.”
Back rent accumulated between October 2021 and January 2023 is due at a second payment deadline in February 2024. The complexities of this situation illustrate the ongoing struggles of both renters and landlords in the face of the pandemic and the subsequent economic challenges.