There is no doubt that COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the economy, and many people have had their employment put on hold or suddenly terminated, making it impossible to pay their rent in California. As many families were concerned about losing their homes – on top of possibly contracting a potentially deadly virus – Governor Gavin Newsome issued an executive order on April 4, 2020, suspending evictions for the nonpayment of rent.

There are two requirements that tenants must meet for this eviction suspension to apply to them:

1. They had previously paid rent as agreed in their lease
2. They notified the landlord in writing prior to the due date or within seven days following the rent due date that they were unable to pay some or all of the rent for reasons stemming from COVID-19

Some qualified reasons for the inability to pay rent include having their employment interrupted due to business closures or other responses to government orders, needing to pause work to care for a child due to school closures, or the inability to work due to suspected COVID-19 symptoms or a family member with symptoms.

Tenants should retain documents to prove their situation and support their inability to pay. If a tenant meets the above criteria, there should not be any court order issued or enforced for a nonpayment eviction. In addition, courts have suspended all eviction cases for the time being.

Contact an Eviction Lawyer in Beverly Hills for More Information

Many landlords and tenants are struggling in these uncertain times, though you should always understand how your rights are impacted by government orders. If you would like to discuss nonpayment of rent or evictions, consult with a Beverly Hills eviction attorney at the Law Offices of Jon H. Freis. Call 310.276.1218 or contact us online today.