The End of the Local Emergency Finally Brings the Association’s Long Advocated for Cancellation of the City’s Moratoriums on Evictions and Rent Increases
As we approach the end of 2022, the long-awaited light at the end of the tunnel can be seen with a definite end date set for the termination of the City’s declaration of local emergency for February 1, 2023 and with it the end of related emergency measures whose expirations are directly tied to the end of local emergency, including the City’s moratoriums on evictions and rent increases.
The Association has vigorously advocated for the City to recognize today's vastly different circumstances compared to those at the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and to establish a clear path forward and end to these emergency measures. We consistently urged the Council to seek equitable solutions and appreciate the harm to the City's multifamily rental housing industry and the communities that we serve by maintaining these government mandates well beyond their urgency.
Enormous advancements have been achieved with the availability of vaccines and vaccine boosters, and our overall improved understanding of the progression and treatment of COVID-19. Life has settled into a new normalcy, as children have been back at school, business sectors have resumed normal operations and people are working, travelling, and attending a wide range of events as they did prior to the onset of the pandemic. It was long overdue for the City to declare the end of COVID-19 local emergency and enable all industries, including rental housing providers, to resume normal operations. Throughout the challenges of the last several years, the Association has maintained our unwavering commitment to our members and industry advocacy.
This week and the action taken by Mayor Garcetti and the City Council marked the beginning of the end to the COVID-19 local emergency and related emergency measures. At the December 7th Los Angeles City Council meeting, the Council were to consider another 30-day extension to the City’s COVID-19 local emergency which was declared on and has remained in effect since March 4, 2020. Prior to the meeting, the Association submitted a letter to the City Council in opposition to the extension of the local emergency and calling on the Council to bring it to an end.
On December 6th, Mayor Garcetti issued a Notice of Status of Local Emergency, in which he indicated that “City government has developed the infrastructure and capacity to manage the previous challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that they no longer rise to the level where they are beyond the control of the normal services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the regularly constituted branches and departments of City government.” The Mayor recommended that the City Council terminate the local emergency effective on February 1, 2023.
To review the full details of the Mayoral Notice of Status of Local Emergency, please click on the button below:
Mayor Notice of Status of Local Emergency
During the City Council meeting, the following day, an amending motion advanced by City Council President Krekorian and Councilmember Blumenfield was approved with Councilmembers Bonin, Raman, and Harris-Dawson opposing, terminating the local emergency on February 1, 2023.
To review the full details of the amending motion, please click on the button below:
The action taken by the City Council in setting the end date for the local emergency on February 1, 2023 effectively establishes the end to the City’s eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze, as both these ordinance’s expirations are based on the expiration of the local emergency. The eviction moratorium will generally end on February 1, 2023 with limited exceptions and will provide renters with up to twelve months to repay deferred rent owed depending on when the rental debt was accrued. The City’s rent increase freeze will end on February 1, 2024 as the ordinance that established the rent increase freeze directs the end of the freeze one year following the termination of the local emergency.
We encourage members with property in the City of Los Angeles to review the full details of the ordinances that established the City’s eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze and consult with an attorney relative to any specific tenancy questions.
To review the full details of the eviction moratorium ordinance, please click on the button below:
To review the full details of the rent increase freeze ordinance, please click on the button below:
Rent Increase Freeze Ordinance
While the recent City Council action will bring positive changes in early 2023, we must continue to be vigilant in our advocacy efforts as numerous concerning permanent housing policy proposals remain unresolved. The Association will continue to monitor all these matters closely, strongly advocate for our members interests and provide timely updates.
Original source can be found here
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