The Los Angeles City Council is advancing legislation to safeguard renters from what is known as ‘renovictions,’ a term used to describe the practice of evicting tenants under the pretext of renovations, only to raise rent for new occupants afterward.
In a unanimous vote on July 1, the Council approved an amendment aimed at curtailing landlords’ ability to evict tenants for substantial remodels without proper justification.
Under the previous ‘just cause’ ordinance, landlords could evict tenants if a remodel involved significant structural, mechanical, or plumbing work.
The newly approved amendment changes the rules, stipulating that landlords may no longer use substantial remodels as legitimate grounds for eviction unless they obtain a Government Agency Order.
This order is issued when an official local government authority, such as the Los Angeles Housing Department or the Los Angeles Building and Safety Department, determines that a property requires immediate action to address housing code violations.
Tenant rights advocates argue that this change addresses a significant issue within the rental market, where some landlords exploit renovation claims to evict tenants and subsequently charge higher rents to new renters.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who has championed this effort and represents areas including Canoga Park and Reseda, emphasized that the amendment denies the practice of renovictions while simultaneously facilitating legitimate renovations.
This amendment follows a temporary ordinance established four months earlier to prevent the misuse of the ‘just cause’ eviction policy during remodels, which is set to expire on August 1.
The City Council is in search of a permanent solution to protect renters, and in addition to this recent vote, has directed the Los Angeles Housing Department and city attorney to develop criteria for tenant relocation during renovations.
In the coming 90 days, the Housing Department will present a detailed proposal to the City Council outlining the obligations of landlords when a tenant must be relocated for remodeling purposes.
Specific elements of the proposal will include how landlords are required to compensate displaced tenants through mutually agreed-upon monetary relocation payments.
Additionally, landlords will be mandated to ensure that tenants are provided with comparable or improved housing during the renovation period, covering all relocation expenses along with rent for substitute housing.
Moreover, the proposal will include guidelines on how tenants should continue fulfilling their rental payments while living temporarily in alternative accommodations.
The amendment will also address the return of tenants to their original unit, stipulating that any increase in rent upon their return does not exceed the allowable limit of 10 percent as dictated by state law.
As for penalties for landlords who violate this ordinance, the City will explore amendments to ensure that there are adequate consequences in place for those who misuse renovation claims to evict tenants.
Overall, this legislative movement by the Los Angeles City Council reflects an ongoing effort to balance the needs and rights of both tenants and landlords in a rapidly changing housing market.
image source from：latimes
