The Rad Firm, APC

"The unconventional effort to help renters would ask landlords to forgive rent payments in exchange for equally sized tax credits spread out over a 10-year period starting in 2024. The tax credits would be transferable, meaning the property owner could sell them to an outside investor and get cash immediately."

"Tenants will soon have the right to sue landlords who violate restrictions that Los Angeles has placed on evicting renters during the coronavirus crisis, under a law passed Wednesday by the City Council."

A good breakdown of the legality of business closures in the COVID-19 era by a renowned scholar.

Los Angeles is playing with fire by seeking to impose a blanket moratorium on evictions.

"That may change in May, as the unemployment rolls grow, and calls for rent strikes get louder."

Finally, some consideration to help financially-strapped landlords weather the storm.

Hypo Friday: Larry Landlord and the Third Party Rental Payment

Calls for a general rent strike, where nobody pays the rent and back rent never gets paid are irresponsible, unethical, and illegal, said Thomas Bannon, executive director of the California Apartment Association.

"The action comes after a Los Angeles City Council decision last week to temporarily freeze evictions and give tenants up to 12 months to pay overdue rent."

Hypo Friday: What to do when you have new unauthorized occupants in your unit.

SB 330 has brought with it two new filing requirements that impact the areas of land use and landlord-tenant law but thankfully go far in providing more clarity as to whether development plans will pencil.

The latest updates: Court Closure Update The Los Angeles County courts are all closed today through April 16, 2020 except for certain urgent matters that do not pertain to unlawful detainers. We can still proceed with filing complaints and service of complaints on defendants; However, answers to lawsuits will not be due until 5-15 days (depending on the method of service) after the courts formally reopen on April 16, 2020. Notices may still be given and will countdown as u...sual. All trials/hearings are continued to after April 16, 2020. For non-payment cases only, the governor's order applies in that tenants can use COVID as a defense to non-payment actions. Tenants can make complaints about receiving non-payment notices to HCIDLA. HCIDLA will then investigate to determine whether tenants have evidence of COVID-related defenses, create a file and issue a determination that can be used as an affirmative defense in court. There is buzz that the Los Angeles City Council plans to meet and issue stricter orders tomorrow regarding evictions. We will let you know if/when that happens. Sheriff Lockout Update The Sheriff's Civil Management Unit higher-ups met on Friday and issued the following: "In response to the substantial need to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County, and due to limited access for the public in the courthouse, the Sheriff’s Department will not accept any process, unless it was issued post March 19, 2020, where the court has determined to be emergent. Process already in our possession will be handled and served with the exception of evictions. All eviction process, including process already in our possession, will be on hold until further notice unless it is determined to be emergent." In essence, we cannot submit new writs for lockout processing at the moment. Anything already in possession of the sheriff is placed on hold until further notice. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the foregoing or if you would like a status of your specific case.