LA renters can skip paying rent for two months before being evicted

Los Angeles County officials have approved a rule that will allow some tenants to miss up to two months of rent before their landlords can start eviction proceedings.

In a 4–1 vote on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the change, which will go into effect on April 16. The policy applies to rental units priced at fair market value, defined as $2,085 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,601 for a two-bedroom.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger was the lone vote against the measure. She said the policy places an unfair burden on property owners and argued that government should not address renters’ financial struggles by shifting the cost to landlords. Barger said many property owners are already facing their own financial challenges and should not be expected to absorb additional losses.

A teal "Now Renting" sign with a phone number in front of an apartment building with palm trees. — Rental apartments in Koreatown in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, 2014. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The new rule modifies the county’s 2022 Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections Ordinance. Supporters say the adjustment is intended to help residents who are struggling with rising expenses.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, one of the proposal’s co-sponsors, described the change as a limited expansion meant to give renters some temporary relief. Hahn said adding an extra month before eviction proceedings can begin may help tenants stabilize their finances while still recognizing that landlords rely on rent payments to meet their own financial obligations.

Another co-sponsor, Supervisor Hilda Solis, said the policy is also meant to respond to the impact of recent immigration enforcement activity. Solis said the county has been taking steps to support renters who may be affected and argued that increasing the threshold to two months of unpaid rent could help prevent immediate evictions. She added that tenants would still be responsible for repaying any rent they fall behind on.

A white apartment building with a red "For Rent" sign in a window. — A white apartment building with a red “For Rent” sign in a window. Getty Images

Officials have not yet determined what the long-term effects of the policy will be for property owners. Housing agencies are expected to track the change and monitor whether it has any impact on homelessness in unincorporated parts of the county.

Los Angeles has long been viewed as a city with strong tenant protections. Landlords have frequently argued that eviction rules already make it difficult to remove non-paying tenants, and the new policy is likely to add to that ongoing debate.

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