HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachment 2 - AB 3088 Tenant Relief Act 2020
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Our mission is to equip Chula Vista's diverse
residents with information and the resources
to build strong families and to strengthen the
social and physical fabric of the community.
Rev
09/20
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California’s Tenant, Homeowner, And Small
Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act Of 2020: What
You Need to Know
The Tenant Relief Act of 2020 – COVID 19 Tenant Evictions
AB 3088 Effective 09/01/2020
California has new eviction protections for residential tenants (including mobile home tenants),
regardless of immigration status, who are experiencing a financial hardship due to the COVID-
19 pandemic and have been unable to pay rent. These eviction protections are for rent
payments due from March 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021. The following guidance will help
you better understand the new laws and how they will affect you.
Covers the Rent Payment Period from March 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021
March 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020
Tenant unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 financial distress
Tenant served with:
1. 15-day (not a 3-day) Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
2. Information on Tenant's Rights and Obligations for Protections
3. Declaration of COVID 19 Financial Distress form to complete and return to
Landlord
Wait for 15-day Notice Period (does not include weekends
or judicial holidays) for the return of a signed Declaration
from the Tenant (supporting documentation if a high
income tenant1)
YES
Declaration & Support Docs (if required)
Returned by Tenant
CANNOT be evicted for Non-Payment of Rent
for March-August 2020 and collection of any
unpaid rent due may be filed on or after
March 1, 2021 as consumer debt
NO
Declaration & Support Docs (if required)
Returned by Tenant2
Landlord may begin tenant EVICTION process
on or after October 5, 2020 for non-payment
of rent for March-August 2020 and collection
of any unpaid rent due
2 of 5 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista California 91910www.chulavistaca.gov (619) 691-5047
Our mission is to equip Chula Vista's diverse
residents with information and the resources
to build strong families and to strengthen the
social and physical fabric of the community.
Rev
09/20
9
September 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Tenant unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 financial distress
Tenant served with:
1. 15-day (not a 3-day) Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
2. Information on Tenant's Rights and Obligations for Protections
3. Declaration of COVID 19 Financial Distress form to complete and return to
Landlord
Wait for 15-day Notice Period (does not include weekends
or judicial holidays) for the return of a signed Declaration
from the Tenant (supporting documentation if a high
income tenant1)
YES
Declaration & Support Docs (if required)
Returned by Tenant
NO
Declaration & Support Docs (if required)
Returned by Tenant2
Landlord may begin EVICTION process on or
after October 5, 2020 and collection of any
unpaid rent due
NO
Tenant does not pay a minimum of 25% of the
rent due from Sept 2020 through January 2021
no later than January 31, 2021.
Landlord may begin EVICTION process on or
after February 1, 2021 and collection of any
unpaid rent due may be filed on or after
March 1, 2021 as consumer debt
YES
Tenant must pay a minimum of 25% of the
rent due from Sept 2020 through January 2021
no later than January 31, 2021. Payment may
be made each month or one lump payment of
25% for the entire period by January 31, 2021.
CANNOT be evicted for Non-Payment of Rent
for Sept 2020-January 2021 and collection of
unpaid rent due may be filed on or after
March 1, 2021 as consumer debt
Tenant unable to pay rent for the next month
due to COVID-19 financial distress
3 of 5 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista California 91910www.chulavistaca.gov (619) 691-5047
Our mission is to equip Chula Vista's diverse
residents with information and the resources
to build strong families and to strengthen the
social and physical fabric of the community.
Rev
09/20
9
Notes:
1 Higher income tenants are defined as having over $100K household income or over
130% of median household income, whichever is higher.
2 Tenants who are unable to provide the Declaration within 15 business days may still
submit the Declaration if they have a “good reason”, such as a mistake, inadvertence,
surprise, or excusable neglect (California Code of Civil Procedure Section 473 (b))
Eligible Residential Tenants (Those Who Have Experienced COVID-19 Related Financial
Distress)
▪ Loss of income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
▪ Increased out-of-pocket expenses directly related to performing essential work during
the COVID-19 pandemic;
▪ Increased expenses directly related to the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
▪ Childcare responsibilities or responsibilities to care for an elderly, disabled, or sick family
member directly related to the COVID-19
▪ pandemic that limit a tenant’s ability to earn income;
▪ Increased costs for childcare or attending to an elderly, disabled, or sick family member
directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
▪ Other circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic that have reduced a tenant’s
income or increased a tenant’s expenses.
No Rent Forgiveness
Tenants are Responsible for Paying Unpaid Rent to Landlords
Evictions for Just Cause
Residential tenants may still be evicted for Just Cause, with limitations for those unable to pay
rent due to financial impacts from COVID-19. The eviction process for causes other than non-
payment of rent may begin September 2, 2020.
What are the requirements for a just cause eviction?
▪ A landlord has limited ability to evict tenants who have occupied a residential unit for at
least 12 months to a list of just causes, either “at-fault” or “no-fault”.
▪ Under AB 3088, no-fault evictions are not permitted against any tenant until February 1,
2021. The only no-fault eviction permitted by AB 3088 is if the property needs to be
demolished or substantially remodeled.
4 of 5 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista California 91910www.chulavistaca.gov (619) 691-5047
Our mission is to equip Chula Vista's diverse
residents with information and the resources
to build strong families and to strengthen the
social and physical fabric of the community.
Rev
09/20
9
What are the ‘At-fault’ just causes:
▪ Beginning October 5, 2020 for non-payment of rent prior to March 1, 2020, not an
eligible tenant or not following the rules of AB 3088 (e.g. No financial hardship due to
COVID-19, timely submittal of the required Declaration or if applicable payment of the 25% rent
for Sept 2020 to January 31, 2021)
▪ Material breach of rental agreement
▪ Nuisance
▪ Damaging property
▪ Non-renewal of lease
▪ Criminal activity on the property or criminal activity or threat on/off the property
directed at the owner or agent of the owner
▪ Subletting in violation of lease
▪ Denying landlord access
▪ Using the premises for an unlawful purpose
▪ Employee, agent, or licensee’s failure to vacate after termination
▪ Failure to deliver possession as provided in written notice/offer
For most “At-fault” just causes, owners will be required to first give a notice of violation and
an opportunity to cure the violation prior to issuing notice of termination.
What are the ‘No-fault’ just causes: Limited until February 1, 2021
▪ Owner or relative move-in (Must be the owner or their spouse, domestic partner, children,
grandchildren, parents, or grandparents).
▪ Requires written agreement or provision in lease after July 1, 2020
▪ Withdrawal of the property from the rental market (Ellis Act)
▪ Owner complying with a local ordinance or order from a government agency or court
that necessitates vacating the property
▪ Intent to demolish or substantially remodel the property (Allowed under AB 3088)
For “no-fault” just causes (such as an owner/relative move -in), owners will be required to
make a relocation payment equal to one month’s rent or waive in writing the payment of
rent for the final month prior to the rent becoming due.
What types of units are exempt from the just cause eviction requirements?
▪ The units exempt from just cause requirements include those exempt from the new rent
control, plus:
o Single-family owner-occupied residences, if the owner-occupant is renting no
more than two units or bedrooms
o Homes the tenant shares bathroom or kitchen facilities with the owner (must be
owner’s principal residence)
o Transient and tourist hotels
o Nonprofit hospitals, religious facilities, and other care facilities
5 of 5 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista California 91910www.chulavistaca.gov (619) 691-5047
Our mission is to equip Chula Vista's diverse
residents with information and the resources
to build strong families and to strengthen the
social and physical fabric of the community.
Rev
09/20
9
Available Resources:
Whether renting a room, an apartment, a house, or a duplex, the relationship between a renter and the
property owner is governed by federal and state laws. The City of Chula Vista does not enforce federal
and state laws related to landlord-tenant issues. The following information and resources may be of
assistance to you or visit our Landlord-Tenant web page:
State of California Fact Sheet AB 3088
• https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Factsheet-Tenant-Homeowner-and-
Small-Landlord-Relief-and-Stabilization-Act-of-2020.pdf
• https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/coronavirus19/stabilization_act_guidance.pdf
State of California Housing is Key: Landlord and Tenant Resources
• https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/index.html
Declaration of COVID-19 related financial hardship (Required Form)
Available in English and five other common languages
• https://landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/tenant/forms.html
CSA San Diego County
The City of Chula Vista contracts with CSA of San Diego County
regarding landlord-tenant and fair housing issues. Please
contact CSA regarding these matters.
• Chula Vista Office English/Español PDF
(619) 619 444-5700
1-800-954-0441
RAYO DE ESPERANZA
1653 Albany Ave
Chula Vista, CA, 91911
www.c4sa.org
San Diego Superior Court Self Help Center
• Landlord Tenant
• Frequently Asked Questions: Tenants or Landlords
Legal Aid Society of San Diego (if they are low-income)
• Eviction Clinic
(866) 244-0101
110 South Euclid Avenue
San Diego, CA 92114
Lawyer Referral & Information Service and Landlord Tenant
Information from the San Diego County Bar Association.
• Landlord-Tenant Law
(800) 464-1529
(619) 231-8585
LRIS@sdcba.org
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
Free civil legal services to disadvantaged families, seniors,
persons with disabilities, persons infected with HIV or AIDS,
and domestic violence survivors in San Diego County. Contact
this group by attending a clinic at one of several locations.
619.235.5656
info@sdvlp.org
707 Broadway, Suite 1400
San Diego, CA 92101
NOTE:
The names and contact information are provided as a resource and not in the way of an endorsement by
the City of Chula Vista. The resources list is intended as a brief overview and may not include all available
local, state and federal resources.