L.A. County raises eviction threshold for nonpayment of rent in unincorporated areas

Los Angeles County has doubled the minimum rent debt required before a landlord can pursue eviction for nonpayment, under a change to the county's Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections Ordinance. The change takes effect April 16 and applies to units in unincorporated areas subject to the ordinance's just cause-eviction provisions.

Under the amended rule, a landlord may not proceed with an eviction for nonpayment unless the tenant's total unpaid balance exceeds two months of fair market rent - up from the prior one-month threshold.

Single-family homes are not exempt. Although they are excluded from the ordinance's rent control provisions, they remain subject to its just cause eviction provisions - and the new two-month threshold applies.

Fair market rent is set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and varies by unit size, from studios to four-bedroom units, within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metro area.

Landlords serving an eviction notice must also state the fair market rental value and the number of bedrooms in the unit.