San Gabriel Passes Temporary No-Fault Eviction Moratorium

(L-R) Eric Sunada, Founder of San Gabriel Valley Oversight Group; Teresa Eilers, United Way Everyone In Campaign; Vice-Mayor Denise Menchaca; Mayor Jason Pu

The San Gabriel City Council passed a temporary no-fault eviction moratorium at an emergency City Council meeting at 7:00 am today (Nov. 21, 2019).

By Sean McMorris

The emergency ordinance passed in a 5-0 vote. Councilman Liao attended the meeting via teleconference from San Antonio, TX.

The temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions will last until January 1, 2020, when the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) takes effect. It fills a vulnerability gap left by AB 1482 that does not prevent landlords from evicting tenants without “just cause” before the Tenant Protection Act goes into effect at the 1st of the year. Once AB 1482 is instituted on January 1, 2020, landlords must have just cause to evict a tenant (i.e. failure to pay rent, illegal activity, expired lease, etc.) or pay the evicted tenant a relocation fee. AB 1482 also caps yearly rent increases at 5% plus CPI (typically around 3%).

San Gabriel joins a slew of other California cities who have passed similar temporary no-fault eviction moratoriums since Governor Newsom signed AB 1482 in October, which prompted many landlords to evict tenants post-haste to preempt the new law. Local cities with temporary no-fault eviction moratoriums currently include Los Angeles, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, Baldwin Park, and Duarte.

San Gabriel tenants and landlords who have questions about the City’s temporary no-fault eviction ordinance and if it applies to their circumstances should contact San Gabriel City Hall (626-308-2800) and/or the Housing Rights Center (800-447-5977).