By Pablo Estupiñan, SAJE Director of the Right to Counsel Campaign
July 16, 2024
This morning, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of advancing a Right to Counsel ordinance for tenants facing eviction. The law would apply to unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, guaranteeing full-scope legal representation for renters in eviction court. It will also require landlords to give notice of the Right to Counsel when serving eviction notices, and it allows renters an affirmative defense in court when landlords do not comply.
The Tenant Right to Counsel Program will have a final reading and vote on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, before it officially goes into effect. The program is expected to roll out in January 2025.
The Tenant Right to Counsel is a critical tool in L.A. County’s fight against homelessness. Each year, nearly 46,000 Angelenos receive eviction notices. On average, just 10% of renters have legal representation in eviction court, while over 90% of landlords have attorneys. Renters often lack the knowledge, resources, or language skills to respond to the unlawful detainer or defend themselves in a courtroom. In fact, more than half of eviction court cases in the county end in default judgments—meaning renters lose their homes because they don’t properly respond to the legal paperwork, and not because they are in violation of their lease. The guaranteed right to an attorney in eviction court helps even the playing field for these renters, preventing them from becoming unhoused.
Today’s Tenant Right to Counsel vote comes after years of organizing and advocacy by community-based organizations, renters rights groups, and tenant leaders who make up the L.A. Renters’ Right to Counsel Coalition. Many coalition members have experienced firsthand how difficult eviction court can be to navigate for renters who lack legal resources.
“The COVID pandemic affected the physical, mental, and financial health of our communities, and we are still feeling the effects. Many of us are still dealing with rent debt, and if we get evicted, we will have nowhere else to go. Having a Tenant Right to Counsel will help us through the eviction process so that we can stay in our homes,” said SAJE member and tenant leader Vilma Vazquez, who spoke at the press conference prior to the vote.
For more information about the advantages of a Tenant Right to Counsel program for L.A., read our 2023 report.
