How much are you entitled in relocation assistance as a renter in LA?
On Friday, June 24th a federal appeals court upheld California legislation which entitled California tenants to relocation assistance -to the amount of one month’s rent- in the case of most evictions. The court went beyond that, to state that the legislation was legally indistinguishable from similar county ordinances on the matter. Under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO) renters in LA are eligible for relocation funds much greater than those granted under the state law. There also exists additional relocation assistance ordinances for tenants residing in San Jose and San Francisco counties, which renters should research if they reside in those counties.
When do you qualify for relocation assistance under the LARSO?
All Los Angeles tenants are eligible given that they are facing a not-at-fault eviction, and said eviction is not as a result of unlivable conditions caused by a natural disaster. A not-at-fault eviction is any eviction which is not justified by the actions of the tenant. For Los Angeles renters who are eligible, the amount granted will vary depending on your situation. Below is the amount entitled in given situations for eligible and qualified tenants respectively.
If you have rented your residence less than 3 years: $8,950 / $18,900
If you have rented your residence at least 3 years: $11,700 / $22,350
If you are considered low income: $11,700 / $22,350
If you rent from a “Mom & Pop” property owner: $8,650 / $17,400
*Renters are considered qualified if they have an income, as adjusted for household size, that is 80% or less than that of the median income in their area, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
*Landlords are considered mom & pop if they own no more than 4 units of residential property plus a maximum of 1 single-family home, in the city of Los Angeles. If these conditions are met the landlord can pay the reduced rate even if the renter has been a tenant for more than 3 years and/or are considered qualified.
*If your monthly rent payment is greater than the amount you would be eligible to receive under LARSO, then you would instead be entitled to that grater amount under California law.
What to do if your landlord is not paying your entitled relocation assistance?
Both California state law and Los Angeles County ordinances stipulate that relocation funds must be made available to the tenant within 15 days of
them being served an eviction notice. Additionally, acknowledgement of the relocation assistance and a stipulated amount are required to be listed on the eviction notice. If you are served an eviction notice which does no
t include terms of relocation assistance, or the terms are unlawful, you should immediately contact your landlord and assert your rights. If your landlord remains non-compliant you should seek guidance from an attorney specialized in tenant protection.
Tenants Law Firm is here to help.
If you are experiencing issues regarding this matter or are unsure of your rights as a tenant, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Tenants Law Firm. Our attorneys are here to assist you. Contact us by filling out our online intake form here and we will get back to you to schedule a free consultation.
Disclaimer
The purpose of this post is for information only, this is not legal advice.