Why Pay Rent? Federal, State and Local Moratoriums Protect Tenants from Eviction for Non Payment of Rent

The City of Santa Monica has extended its emergency order preventing residential and commercial tenants from being evicted for nonpayment of rent, to March 31, 2021. Which begs the question, why pay rent?

Eviction defense lawyers we spoke to, said they recommend remaining on good terms with your landlord. He's still expected to pay property taxes, after all. The State of California does have a record of helping landlords collect rents, through strict laws and summary unlawful detainer proceedings. By September of 2021, most Californians will have been vaccinated, and the City's order may well not be extended. It is expected at that time, that millions Americans will be evicted at the same time, due to foreclosures and evictions for non payment of rent.

Newly elected US President Joe Biden has extended the Federal eviction ban to the end of 2021. The State of California has a rent ban until the end of July, 2021.

The City of Santa Monica's extension of eviction moratorium follows.

January 20, 2021 3:24 PM Santa Monica Extends its Eviction Moratoriums for Residential and Commercial Tenants and Emergency Orders to March 31, 2021

The City of Santa Monica's thirty-second emergency supplement signed yesterday extends the timeline for eviction protections for residential tenants and commercial tenant 1s unable to pay rent due to financial impacts of COVID-19 to March 31, 2021, aligning with the extension of the moratorium on evictions of residential tenants for reasons other than nonpayment of rent adopted in the thirty-first supplement in December. The thirty-second supplement also extends the expiration of the City's local emergency and associated supplements to March 31, 2021, given the continued community spread and economic impacts of COVID-19.  

"As many of our residents and businesses continue to struggle with the devastating economic toll caused by the pandemic, we are committed to helping our community members to stay housed," said Interim City Manager Lane Dilg. "Every vaccine provided and every decrease in hospitalizations provides hope, but we know we still have a long road to travel to full economic recovery.  As a City, we intend to walk alongside our community members each step of the way."

The thirty-second supplement specifically addresses the following:

Extends the City's moratorium on evictions of residential tenants for non-payment of rent to cover rent due and unpaid because of financial impacts related to COVID-19 between January 31, 2021 and March 31, 2021.   

Extends the City's moratorium on evictions of commercial tenant 1s to cover rent due and unpaid because of financial impacts related to COVID-19 through March 31, 2021, and extends by 90 days, from June 30 to September 30, 2021, the period in which commercial tenant 1s may repay unpaid rent.   

Subject to previously specified exceptions (in the Nineteenth and Thirty-First Supplements), extends the expiration of prior supplements that remain in place through March 31, 2021.  Later expiration dates stated in specific supplements remain unchanged.

Authorizes BBB to modify its contract with the entity that solicits bus advertising to account for the COVID-19 downturn in the market for such advertising.

For the latest information, please visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus, or call the City's Coronavirus Hotline at (310) 458-8400