EVICTION HELP FOR LA CITY RENTERS

If you’re at risk of being evicted, there’s help available for you.

Do not self-evict without receiving advice.

If you receive a LA Superior Court Documentation (SUMMONS & COMPLAINT-UNLAWFUL DETAINER [UD]) you MUST respond and file an Answer within FIVE days, or you will be evicted without a trial. For assistance, contact any of the following agencies:

Important Information for Los Angeles City Renters

REMEMBER City of Los Angeles renters have eviction protections:

Your landlord must provide a legal reason for eviction . Depending on the reason for the eviction, landlords must provide relocation assistance.

The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (TAHO) protects all residential tenants in the City of Los Angeles from harassment by landlords. Harassment occurs when a landlord creates an unbearable situation to the point that the tenant does not feel comfortable or safe remaining in the unit. For more information on the TAHO visit: housing.lacity.org/residents/tenant-anti-harassment. To file a complaint, contact LAHD Hotline or file a complaint online visit: housing.lacity.org/residents/file-a-complaint.

Tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent if the tenant owes rent less than the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of their rental unit . For example, if a tenant rents a 1-bedroom unit and the rent is $1,500, the landlord cannot evict the tenant since the rent owed is less than the FMR for a 1-bedroom unit.

United to House Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program (ULA ERAP)

THE APPLICATION IS CLOSED FOR TENANT AND SMALL LANDLORD PROVIDERS

ULA ERAP Hotline

Hotline: (866) 557-7368
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TTY line (for hearing or speech impaired): 711

To look up the status of a ULA ERAP application which begins with the prefix “ULA” please check below:

ULA ERAP Application Hotline 1(866) 557-7368
Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tenant Information & Eligibility

The program will cover up to six months of rental arrears. To be eligible, a tenant's household must be obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and meet the following requirements:

1. Be a resident of the City of Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status. To verify if you live in the City of Los Angeles, go to neighborhoodinfo.lacity.gov.
2. One or more individuals within the household have experienced a loss of employment, reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship between March 2020 and now.
3. Have unpaid rent due to their current landlord for any month(s) between April 1, 2020, through now.
4. The current household income is at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI).

*Participants of Section 8 housing choice voucher, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), or living in project-based Section 8 or public housing are not eligible to apply to the program.

Prioritization

Priority will be given to applications from households with income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Applicants that do not meet the eligibility priority may be processed at a later time.

Once the above priority is met, the following applications will be selected that meet the following criteria:

• Households with minor children and/or seniors aged 65 and above or people with disabilities.
• Households that are extremely rent burdened, paying more than 50% of total household income for rent each month.
• Households that are at high risk of becoming homeless (include, but is not limited to households with past due rent or an eviction notice, unsafe or unhealthy living conditions; or any other evidence of such risk.
• Households for whom up to six months’ rent in its entirety will satisfy their entire debt for the unit they currently inhabit; or who have entered into an agreement to repay the remaining balance affordably;

Payment

The program will pay a maximum of six months of unpaid rent. Financial assistance will only be payable to the landlord of the rental property. It is highly recommended that tenants communicate with their landlord and provide accurate contact information for their landlord to avoid problems or delays in applications being funded. Note landlords who own more than 12 rental units whose tenants may have already applied during the tenant application period continue to be eligible for the program. Landlords that own more than 12 units must wait to receive a tenant notification of their eligibility and then submit the required landlord documentation. The Small Landlord application is only available to landlords that own 12 or fewer units.

About the Small Landlord Providers

The City of Los Angeles United to House Los Angeles (ULA) Emergency Renters Assistance Program landlord application was only available for landlords who own 12 or fewer units. To be eligible, the rental property must be located in the City of Los Angeles.

Details:
Once a landlord application has been submitted, the tenant will be invited to apply to the ULA ERAP. Tenants who may have applied and have an existing application will be paired with the landlord’s application to expedite processing to determine if the tenant meets the ULA ERAP eligibility criteria.

The ULA ERAP will provide up to six months of rental arrears to low-income residential renters who are at risk of homelessness due to unpaid rent as a result of COVID-19 or other financial hardship. Rental arrears will only be provided to landlords on behalf of tenants that meet the ULA ERAP eligibility criteria, and the landlord has provided the following:

• Proof of Landlord Photo Identification
• Proof of Property Ownership
• A Completed W9 - Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
• Proof of the tenant's current monthly and past due rent

Information Materials

Tenant ULA ERAP flyer available for download in various languages:

Landlord ULA ERAP flyer available for download in various languages:

Frequently Asked Questions

Tenants FAQs

I have a pending application with the COVID-19 Housing Is Key Program. Can I still apply for the ULA ERAP, or is it best to wait for the outcome of my application first?

If you have a pending application or are waiting for an outcome of an appeal with the State’s Housing Is Key Program, you should apply to ULA ERAP and indicate the months of all of your unpaid rent.

New applications will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2023 through Monday, October 2, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

Renters can complete an application online or by telephone beginning on September 19, 2023. The application can also be completed by calling the ULA ERAP hotline Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To apply in person, visit one of our 15 locations throughout the City. To find a location near you, click here.

Household income is the total household income earned, so the household’s income must be at or below this amount before taxes, depending on the number of people in the household.

Yes, renters living in single-family rental properties may apply.

Condominiums located in the City of Los Angeles are eligible for the program.

Can I apply if my name is not on the lease or rental contract? I have always lived in the rental unit and recently divorced, however, my landlord has refused to update the lease agreement.

Applicants need to provide documentation that they live in the rental unit and pay rent. It does not need to be the lease/rental agreement. It could be some other document that connects them to that address, such as a notice from the landlord or a utility bill.

Yes, a tenant does need to demonstrate they owe unpaid rent anytime from April 2020 through now. The program priority is to pay an eligible tenant’s past-due rent for the period of April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021.

No, the program is open to all renters, regardless of immigration status.

What kind of information will I need to provide to confirm my eligibility to receive financial assistance under the ULA Emergency Renters Assistance Program?

A tenant will be required to provide:

1. Proof that they are a resident in the City of Los Angeles, such as an identification card, etc.
2. Proof of residential tenancy, such as a rental agreement/lease, or a notice issued by your current landlord, utility bill, etc.
3. Proof of current and past due rental amount, such as a rent receipt, or rental ledger, etc. b
4. Proof of household income, such as a tax return, 1099 or employer contact information, etc.
5. Proof of loss of employment, reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or other financial hardship between March 2020 and now.

If a tenant does not have tax returns or pay stubs, they can provide an Employer Statement with contact information such as name, address, phone, date of employment & income earned.

I have a government-issued photo ID, but it reflects my previous address, not my current one in Los Angeles. I have all the other proof that I am a renter in LA. Will this be an issue as I apply for the ULA Emergency Renters Assistance Program?

Your government-issued photo ID with a different address will still be used to confirm your identity. You may provide a different document to prove your tenancy, such as a recent notice addressed in your name from your current landlord, or a utility bill in your name with your rental unit address.

A subtenant is eligible to apply for the program. However, as for all applicants, the landlord who will receive the payment must be the person in charge of the property. Financial assistance cannot be payable to a master tenant.

I live with unrelated roommates and we split the rent and utilities. I lost my job, however, my roommates are still employed and paying their portion of the rent, but I am no longer able to afford my portion. Do I still qualify for the program although my roommates’ combined incomes exceed 80% of the AMI household income requirements?

Household income is based on the total income of all members (related & unrelated) living in the same rental unit, so the total household income of all the roommates must be at or below 80% of AMI.

Yes, we need the information for your landlord, the property owner, or the management company you pay your rent. This way, if you are selected for the program, we know the person in charge to contact and pay the financial assistance on your behalf.

The financial assistance will be paid directly to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf.

If you are selected and no longer live at the current rental unit address listed on the application, you are no longer eligible for the program.

The rental arrears are paid directly to the landlord. The rent subsidy will not be paid to the landlord unless the tenant and the landlord have provided documentation to prove their eligibility.

In order for a landlord to receive the assistance, the landlord will be required to provide the following documents:

• Proof of Landlord Identification
• Proof of Ownership
• Proof of the tenant’s current monthly and past due rent.
• A Completed W9 - Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

If a tenant is selected to receive financial assistance, can a tenant receive reimbursement for rent already paid to the landlord?

No, there is no reimbursement or back pay. The financial assistance is intended for rent-burdened tenants who were unable to pay their full rent due to loss of employment, reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship between March 2020 and now.

No. The last application you file will be kept and any earlier applications will be deleted.

Your status will be “Closed Landlord Paid.” To look up your status, click on check my status .

Will undocumented or mixed-status tenant households who receive the financial assistance (grant) be impacted by the Public Charge Rule?

The rental grant should not have consequences under the public charge regulations. Participants should contact an immigration attorney with any specific questions.

My application status has been Tenant Application Received since I applied. When will I be notified if I will be eligible for this program?

Applicants who have met the first round of priority eligibility have been notified. Your application can still be selected if funding permits.

My application status has been Tenant Application Received since I applied. When will I be notified if I will be eligible for this program?

Applicants who have met the first round of priority eligibility have been notified. Your application can still be selected if funding permits.

My application was approved. However, my landlord has not responded; what can I do so I can receive renter assistance to cover my unpaid rent?

The program guidelines require a landlord to participate in order for financial assistance to be paid by the program. Please ensure you have provided the correct contact information for your landlord to respond. If your landlord has opted out of the program ( check the status of your application online) or has informed you they do not want to participate, you may use this as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer if your landlord attempts to evict you. For more information regarding Los Angeles Municipal Code 45.67 and 45.68, please contact the Housing Rights Center at (800) 477-5977.

Landlords FAQs

Small Landlord Providers who own 12 or fewer units will be able to apply beginning on October 23, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. A Small Landlord Provider will only need to apply if their tenant did not apply during the application period from September 19, 2023, through October 2, 2023. Although a landlord may apply, financial assistance will only be provided to landlords whose tenants meet the ULA ERAP eligibility criteria.

No, the City prohibited late fees, interest or other fees for COVID-19 rental debt due from April 1, 2020 through January 31, 2023.

What documents are required by the landlord to submit once notified their tenant is eligible for the program?

• Proof of Landlord Identification
• Proof of Ownership
• Proof of the tenant’s current monthly and past due rent
• Completed W9 - Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

Yes, IRS rules require a 1099 to be issued for financial assistance payments.

My tenant applied to the ULA Rental Assistance Program. Is there anything I need from you, the landlord, to help speed up the process?

Tenants who have met the first round of priority eligibility have been notified. This does not mean your tenant's application will not be selected. Tenants must wait until their application is chosen if funding permits. Landlords will receive notification to submit documents once their tenant application is approved.

Disclaimer

Please be aware of scammers. City employees will not ask you for personal information, such as your Social Security Number, over the telephone related to this Initiative. Please use a secure means to transmit personal contact information to the City for this Initiative.

Any personal information provided to the department may be considered public records subject to public disclosure by requesting parties, pursuant to the California Public Records Act, though certain confidential information may be redacted prior to disclosure to requesting parties.

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