The Los Angeles City Council has adopted Feb. 3 an ordinance providing tenants who are behind on their rent with a one-month grace period prior to their landlord beginning eviction proceedings, but there were not enough votes for it to take effect immediately.
The ordinance is part of a package of renter aid the council began discussing after it voted to let the COVID-19 state of emergency expire at the end of January. The council’s decision also sunset the temporary tenant relief programs that have been in place since the start of the pandemic.
The ordinance allows tenants behind on rent to stay in their apartments for a month, unless they owe more than one month’s worth of fair market rent. The draft ordinance included an urgency clause, but because it only received nine votes—three short of the 12 votes required to activate the clause—it will take effect in 31 days. Councilwoman Traci Park cast the lone dissenting vote. Two councilmen, Paul Krekorian and Curren Price, recused themselves because they are landlords. Councilmen Bob Blumenfield and John Lee were absent….