AB-3088 is Now Law
Tenants Now Protected from Eviction Due to COVID-19-Related Back Rent Through February 1, 2021
Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation yesterday to protect tenants from eviction due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Tenants unable to pay all or part of the rent due to a COVID-related reason are protected.
What does this mean for rents owed?
- Tenants who provide a declaration of hardship according to the legislation’s timelines cannot be evicted before February 1, 2021, as a result of rent owed due to a COVID-19 related hardship accrued between March 4 and August 31, 2020
- For COVID-19 related hardship that accrues September 1, 2020-January 31, 2021, tenants must pay at least 25% of rent due to avoid eviction
- Tenants are still responsible for paying unpaid amounts to their landlords
- Landlords may begin to recover this debt on March 1, 2021
- Landlords who do not follow the court evictions process will face increased penalties under the Act
- New legal and financial protections available for tenants
What does this mean for small landlords?
- Extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowner Bill of Rights to small landlords.
- It provides new accountability and transparency provisions. These protect small landlord borrowers who request CARES-compliant forbearance.
For additional details on AB-3088, read the full article published by the office of Governor Gavin Newsom.
Additional Resources
- COVID-19 Tenant and Landlord Protection
- AB-3088
- Statewide Renter Protection
- Newsom Signs 18 Bills to Boost Housing
- Newsom emphasizes CA’s housing shortage in proposed budget
- Cities Fine Up To $600,000/Month For Not Building Enough Housing
- California Order N-06-19
- Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief
