COVID-19 Temporary Ban on Evictions

The State of California’s (State) temporary ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent related to the COVID-19 pandemic expires September 30, 2021.

Tenants who have questions about their legal rights or pending eviction actions may call:

• Legal Aid Society of San Diego (877) 534-2524 – www.lassd.org
• San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) (619) 235-5656 x127
• Tenants Legal Center (858) 571-7100

State Assembly Bill (AB) 832, signed into law June 28, 2021, includes eviction protections for renters, such as:

• Tenants generally are protected from eviction for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, if that nonpayment is the result of a hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the tenant has paid any required portion of the rent.
• Tenants cannot be evicted for unpaid rent accrued March 1, 2020, through August 31, 2020. Unpaid rent during this period converts to consumer debt.
• Tenants are required to pay at least 25 percent of the rent they owe during the period September 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021.
• Landlords are required to provide a notice to tenants who, as of July 1, 2021, have not paid one or more months of rent during this time period.
• Tenants are required to provide their landlord a Declaration of COVID-19-related financial distress within 15 days of receiving notice from their landlord.
• Beginning November 1, 2021, for the Superior Court to process an Unlawful Detainer action (eviction) for unpaid rent accrued during the period October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022, the landlord must provide:
  • Proof that an application for emergency rental assistance was submitted and denied, or
  • That an application was submitted and after 20 days there was no notification received that the tenant completed their portion of the application, and the tenant has not otherwise informed the landlord of a submitted application.
• If an eviction is court-approved, but the Sheriff has not yet initiated a lock-out, tenants may still submit to the court proof of rental assistance approval, and the court will determine within 5-10 days whether the rent can be paid and the eviction be avoided.
• Local ordinances may take effect April 1, 2022.
• Tenants may still be evicted for “just cause” throughout this time period, such as tenant lease violations, tenant criminal activity, or the owner withdrawing the property from the rental market.

Emergency Rental Assistance – COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program
In the City of San Diego, the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) administers the City of San Diego COVID-19 Housing Stability Program. This program helps pay rent and utilities for qualifying households with low income experiencing financial hardship due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To access the application portal, visit https://covidassistance.sdhc.org/