As California lifts its rental moratorium, many households are at risk of facing eviction. With hundreds of thousands families applying for rental assistance, California is spending nearly $1.2 billion dollars in efforts to prevent evictions.
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Across the state of California, the eviction moratorium is set to end after today. Previously extended this past summer, the moratorium has allowed for renters to avoid eviction if they paid up at least 25% of their rent. Governor Gavin Newsom has promised to assist Californians in any way that he can.
GAVIN NEWSOM: Anybody that has been impacted by COVID that owes rent going back to last April, not just this April, last April, we will pay 100% of that rent. We’ll also pay that rent, 100% if it going forward through September.
The city of Los Angeles will use federal funding to pay off up to 18 months of rent. To qualify for this program, renters must earn 80% or less of the region’s median income. As of Monday, hundreds of thousands of low-income households throughout California have applied for assistance. This is estimated to cost the state $3 billion dollars.
Some cities like Oakland are extending their moratorium past Oct. 1st, meaning tenants can’t be evicted due to COVID-19 related issues. This includes the loss of wages, layoffs, medical costs, or business closures.
Oakland’s mayor, Libby Schaaf, spoke about the extension at Wednesday’s press conference alongside Governor Gavin Newsom.
LIBBY SCHAAF: In Oakland the eviction moratorium is still in place and will continue until the city council declares an end to the local health emergency.
Beginning October 1, the law requires any landlord to highly recommend a tenant to apply for rental assistance before evicting them. However, landlords can begin suing for unpaid rent starting November 1.
But the moratorium’s end doesn’t yet signify a return to pre-COVID-19 measures for landlords. Executive Vice President of the California Apartment’s Association Debra Carlton says that renters are largely protected past the October 1 expiration because of California legislation.
DEBRA CARLTON: While people keep calling it the end of the moratorium, tenants are protected until March of 2022 so long as they apply for funding. So even if a landlord wanted to evict because the tenant hasn’t paid, the landlord can serve a notice on the tenant. And if the tenant’s been authorized for funding, then no eviction takes place.
California plans on spending more than $5 billion dollars in federal funding on rent relief programs. California residents can start applying for the relief programs past Oct. 1. Carlton’s advice for renters and landlords is to make sure to communicate and apply for funding.
CARLTON: The one advice we’re giving to landlords and tenants is to communicate with each other. If you don’t apply for funding, you will face eviction. So apply for funding, especially if you are lower income, lost your job.
Even as the moratorium is set to expire, renters may still avoid eviction in California. As long as they apply for funding and notify their landlord, their debts can be federally subsidized, but more importantly, will leave them ineligible for eviction.