Expanded Eviction Moratorium Closer to Reality With First Reading Tonight

[Updated] Pasadena’s City Council will conduct a first reading Monday on a proposed uncodified ordinance imposing a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by residential tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposed uncodified ordinance will update the existing moratorium on evictions for tenants who are experiencing financial impacts from the pandemic, and is a result of revisions approved by the City Council during its meeting on May 4.

The revisions prohibit landlords from imposing pass-throughs, interest, or late fees for unpaid rent during the moratorium; extend the moratorium to self-storage facilities; encourage partial payment of rent; and prohibit landlords from harassing or intimidating tenants who exercise their protections under the moratorium.

The ordinance also allows residents six months to pay back rent after the crisis is over.

Some local residents don’t think the ordinance goes far enough.

“I still think this will not be enough,” said Lidia Carlton. “ for renters to survive this crisis and rent forgiveness should be on the table.”

City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris said the ordinance is needed as a result of the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and the precautions recommended by health authorities stating that many tenants in Pasadena have experienced or expect soon to experience sudden and unexpected income loss.

Monday’s City Council agenda included a long list of comments received during the May 4 meeting, many of which were calling for clearer guidelines on the eviction moratorium.

A number of suggestions included strengthening the moratorium by aligning it with Los Angeles County’s eviction moratorium, and ensuring that the homeless are housed, albeit temporarily, to help control the spread of the coronavirus.

Some, including a group of realtors and housing apartment owners, opposed further revisions on the approved moratorium ordinance, warning about compounding the severe hardships that small housing providers are already experiencing.

Under the revisions approved on May 4, the City’s Housing Department may need to provide outreach to landlords to remind them of the requirement to provide tenants with written notice of the protections under the approved eviction moratorium, Bagneris said.