Big changes to tenant representation are coming to Los Angeles County in 2025. In July, county lawmakers voted to officially pass the Right to Counsel ordinance, providing free legal counsel to qualifying low-income tenants facing eviction. The ordinance marks the first of its kind to pass in Southern California.
The Initial Vote
On Tuesday, July 16, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gave us a strong indication that the Right to Counsel ordinance would pass. In a unanimous vote, they upheld the ordinance that would strengthen tenant representation in the event of an eviction. Though the county representatives passed the ordinance after a single reading, it still needed to return to the board for ultimate approval.
Following the unanimous vote on July 16, officials issued a series of requirements in the event of the ordinance’s passing. They levied these requests at impacted LA County departments, chiefly the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). Prior to the end of 2025, these departments must return with an accounting for:
- Eligibility qualifications
- Sustainable funding sources
- Codification of the ordinance
Stay Housed L.A.
Officials are tying the free tenant representation to the already established Stay Housed L.A. initiative. In addition to the above stipulations, the motion also requested an allocation of $5 million to supplement the estimated budget.
Stay Housed L.A. was launched in 2020 using $2 million in Measure H funding as its starting point. Committed to defending tenants from eviction, it naturally seemed like the right fit for the new tenant representation ordinance. Stay Housed L.A. offers a broad range of services including rental assistance, but the new ordinance will bolster its legal aid services. The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs estimates over 15,000 unincorporated LA residents will seek Stay Housed L.A.’s services in 2024.
Providing Free Tenant Representation to “Level the Playing Field”
The Right to Counsel ordinance aims to “level the playing field for tenants in court with landlords” according to Supervisor Hilda L. Solis who co-authored the motion with Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. And they’ve provided statistics that support that need. The Center for American Progress supplies data showing that 10% of LA County tenants facing eviction have legal representation. It’s a stark contrast to the 90% of landlords who have legal representation at the other end of the exchange.
Obviously, landlords will have legitimate concerns about this sudden shift in tenant representation. But officials claim that the ordinance won’t spell the end of tenant eviction. “It’s not going to stop evictions altogether,” confirmed Supervisor Janice Hahn. “There are completely lawful and just reasons why some tenants are evicted, but it’s going to make sure I think that tenants have legal representation.”
The Ordinance’s Area of Effect
Initially, the ordinance would only apply to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. But it would eventually expand to cover incorporated areas with the exception of those within the city. The city already passed an ordinance to establish a Right to Counsel program back in March.
Options for Landlords
If you’re a landlord or property investor wondering how the new ordinance for tenant representation impacts you, we recommend reaching out to our partners at Eqwitek. They’re already hard at work educating clients on best practices and strategies directly relating to the Right to Counsel ordinance. Though the ordinance has officially passed, landlords have until January 2025 before it takes effect.
