California State Law Protections: COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act and The COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act (AB 832)

The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act and the COVID-19 Rental Housing Act was signed by Governor Newsom on June 28, 2021. The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act extended previous iterations of state law passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provided that residential Tenant who are unable to pay rent during COVID-19 emergency cannot be evicted for rent that became due between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, if certain requirements are met. The Act's eviction protections apply only where the evictions are based on nonpayment of rent. 

Further, the COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act provides for certain requirements for Landlords seeking to evict for nonpayment of rent between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, including the requirement to seek and apply for rental assistance. Tenants may also apply and potentially have their eviction for nonpayment of rent dismissed and/or have most or all of their rental debt that accrued during the covered period paid (March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021). 

The law also provides mortgage relief to homeowners and landlords with four or fewer properties who have had difficulty making mortgage payments because of COVID-19. Property owners can find additional information from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and should contact their mortgage servicer directly for more information.

• Access the California Code of Civil Procedure for the full text of the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization of Act of 2020 (AB 3088)
• Access the Amended COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act (SB 91) - Effective through June 30, 2021
• Access the Amended COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act and The COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act (AB 832) - Effective through March 31, 2022
• Access the COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act (As amended by AB-2179

NEW NOTICING REQUIREMENT

Landlords are required to provide a notice to Tenants by February 28, 2021, informing them of the new law. Please see Section 1179.04 of the California Code of Civil Procedure for additional information. 

• Access related forms and notices for use by Landlords
• Access the Declaration of COVID-19 related financial distress for use by Tenants

In accordance with RMC 11.100.060(s)(1) and Rent Board Regulation 17-10, Landlords are required to file a copy of all tenancy termination notices (including three day notices to pay rent or quit and notices to perform covenant or quit) with the Rent Board within two (2) business days after service on the Tenant. A Proof of Service with time and date of service must be included with the copy of the notice filed with the Rent Board. Please complete and submit the following form to file a copy of the notice to terminate tenancy with the Rent Board.

For more information concerning evictions or to file a copy of the notice to termination of tenancy with the Rent Board, visit our Termination of Tenancy web page