COVID-19 Temporary Ban on Evictions

Tenants throughout the State of California (State), including City of San Diego (City) residents, cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent related to COVID-19 at least until October 1, 2021.

This includes unpaid rent due between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021.

Landlords are required to provide a notice to tenants who, as of February 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.

Tenants are also required to pay at least 25 percent of the rent they owe during the period September 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021.

Federal funds may be available to pay up to 100 percent of a household’s unpaid rent accrued since April 1, 2020.

In the City of San Diego, the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) administers the City of San Diego COVID-19 Housing Stability Program. To access the application portal, visit https://covidassistance.sdhc.org/

These eviction protections are provided by Assembly Bill (AB) 832, legislation Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on June 28, 2021, which extended the statewide temporary ban on evictions. The legislation also outlines the State’s plan to distribute its share of federal rent relief funding.

The state law also increased rental assistance for past due rent to 100 percent of an eligible household’s unpaid rent accumulated after April 1, 2020.

Tenants’ Rights

AB 832 also establishes the COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act, which includes restrictions for legal eviction proceedings until September 30, 2024.

The state law requires includes noticing requirements, and proof that the landlord applied to receive rental assistance on behalf of the tenant from a government program, and that the application was denied, for households impacted by COVID-19 from October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022.

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) administers the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program, which provides rental and utility assistance for eligible households impacted by COVID-19 in the City of San Diego.

The application for the program is available at https://covidassistance.sdhc.org/

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