Moving out (Photo – Emmanuel Kraultez).
The San Gabriel City Council voted last night to pass a local urgency ordinance that prohibits evictions due to nonpayment of rent as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
By News Desk
This ordinance applies to residential and commercial tenants who live or operate businesses in the City who are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. The ordinance goes into effect immediately and will remain in effect until 30 days following the expiration of Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order (N-28-20), which authorizes local governments to impose limitations on evictions caused by COVID-19.
What does this ordinance protect against?
For both residential and business tenants, landlords will not be permitted to begin eviction proceedings against qualifying tenants while the ordinance is in effect. Landlords may also not charge penalties or late fees for late payment. Please note that this ordinance does not relieve tenants of their obligation to pay rent once the protections are lifted. Tenants are granted up to 180 days after the ordinance expires to pay any past rent in full. The ordinance also does not protect tenants from evictions for reasons unrelated to COVID-19.
Who does this ordinance apply to?
This ordinance applies to residential and business tenants.
Residential tenants:
This eviction moratorium applies to tenants who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes tenants who are unable to work as a result of a health order from the County of Los Angeles who are required to stay at home:
- Tenants who are unable to work as a result of caring for a household or family member who is sick with COVID-19
- Tenants who are experiencing a layoff, work furlough or a reduction in work hours or income as a result of COVID-19
- Tenants who must stay at home or self-quarantine as a result of COVID-19 who do not have access to paid leave or who are unable to use paid vacation time
- Tenants who must take care of a child whose school was closed in response to COVID-19 and is ineligible to receive paid leave or is unable to use paid leave
Commercial tenants:
This eviction moratorium applies to a commercial business entity or principal owner or co-owner of a commercial business entity operating in the City of San Gabriel whose name appears on the lease for the rental unit. Impacted commercial tenants include:
- Businesses who are deemed essential or non-essential under the Safer at Home order who were required to cease or reduce commercial operations
- Businesses who have suffered significant financial loss as a result of the government response to COVID-19
If I’m a residential or commercial tenant and I am unable to pay my rent, what must I do?
If you are a residential or commercial tenant and are unable to pay your rent as a result of COVID-19 for the reasons outlined above, you should notify your landlord in writing before your rent is due. You may also contact your landlord for up to 14 days after your rent is duewith a written notification.
An in writing notification includes email or text communications to the landlord. Landlords must hold the tenant’s medical or financial information in confidence and the information must only be used for evaluating the tenant’s claim.
As a tenant, what type of documentation must I provide to my landlord?
Along with a notification to the landlord, the affected tenant must include copies of verifiable documentation that confirms the inability of the tenant to pay. This may include:
- A written notice or documentation from an employer or other source of income citing COVID-19 as a reason for reduced work hours, a work furlough or termination
- Employer paycheck stubs, payroll checks, bank statements, medical bills, signed letters or statements explaining the affected tenant’s changed financial circumstances
- A notification from a school declaring a school closure related to COVID-19 and notice to the tenant’s employer or other source of income that may be impacted by an impacted child care
> Read the actual eviction moratorium ordinance here.
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