Renters - Know Your Rights!
By Tenant Rights Attorney Elena
Popp
Question: My landlord just told me
that I have to move in 30 days, should I start packing?
Answer: Verbal notice is not good enough.
The notice has to be in writing.
Whether 30 days written notice is good
enough depends on several factors: 1) is your home protected by rent control or
any other laws; 2) is there a long-term lease that protects you; and 3)
have you lived there more than 1 year.
If you live in Venice or Santa Monica, an
owner has to have good cause to evict you. A 30-day notice that does not state
one of the accepted reasons under the local rent control law is not good enough.
Other cities have different requirements for determining if a unit is protected
by the law.
In Los Angeles (Venice),
the unit has to have been built before October 1978 and there have to be at
least two units on the same lot.
If
your housing was subsidized by the Federal government or is owned by a
nonprofit, the notice is probably invalid. Federal programs give tenants
special protections against eviction other than for good cause.
If you are not protected either by Rent
Control or a Federal law, did you sign a long-term lease that protects
you? If you did then the terms of the lease are key.
Finally, if you have lived in the unit
more than a year, and your unit is not otherwise protected, under State law
enacted just a year ago, you are minimally entitled to a 60-day written notice
before you can be evicted.
If your landlord
has already filed an eviction in court, go to one of the following places:
Eviction Defense Network: 1605 West
Olympic Blvd., #502. Corner of Olympic and Union. Sliding fee
services available. No one turned away for any reason. Full
representation in negotiation or in court guaranteed depending on the strength
of your case. Walk-in only: M-F 9-5:45; Sat. 10-3.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles:
1550 W. 8th Street. Corner of 8th Street and Union. Free services if
eligible. Call for appointment: 213-487-760. Counsel and Advice,
Brief Service help filling out papers and representation depending on the facts
of the case. They see approximately 25 people per day.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services: 145
S. Fairfax Ave., #200, Los Angeles. Call for an
appointment. 323-939-0506. Free Services. Counsel and advice, brief service
and representation in court depending on the facts of the case. Intake
maximum 2 per day.
Inner City Law
Center: 1325 E. 7th Street Los Angeles. Free legal assistance to low-income
persons. Counsel and Advice, Brief Service help filling out forms.
They do not provide full representation. Walk in only. Monday &
Thursday-9AM
If your landlord has not
filed an eviction in court yet, go to one of the following free or
low-cost agencies that provide advice to folks pre-eviction:
ACORN: 3655 South Grand Ave.,
#250 It’s in El Mercado La Paloma, just south of Downtown LA
213-747-4211 x203 2nd and 4th Wednesday; 6:30PM. Call to confirm clinic is
happening. Free legal assistance to low-income persons in a clinic setting.
Membership fee requested.
COALITION
FOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL: Community Center at 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West
Hollywood. 7PM Wednesdays & 10AM Saturdays.
323-656-4410.
INQUILINOS UNIDOS: 2845
W. 7th St., at Hoover. 213-483-7497 (no advice on phone). Donation
requested. No one turned away due to lack of funds. First come first
served - walk in only. No income limits. All housing problems. Counsel
and advice and brief service only. No representation. No responses to
eviction actions. Wednesday 2-6.
Send
your tenant-related questions to POB 644, Venice 90294 or
<beachhead@freevenice.org>.
Posted: Fri - April 1, 2005 at 12:44 PM