The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday will consider a motion aimed at preventing evictions as a result of a substantial remodel effort to the housing unit.
Six council members introduced the motion on Oct. 8, which if approved, would instruct the Housing Department and City Attorney’s Office to update the Just Cause Ordinance — in particular, evictions caused by a “substantial remodel,” which is defined as major structural, electrical, plumbing or mechanical system work lasting more than 30 days and requires permits.
Currently, the city qualifies a substantial remodel as a “no-fault” eviction, where a tenant in good standing can be evicted if their unit requires work and the property owner self-certifies it will take 30 days or more to complete.
Property owners of rent-stabilized units, however, must provide a plan to temporarily relocate tenants if the unit requires a substantial remodel. The plan must be submitted to the Housing Department, and the tenant has to agree before it can be executed.
Council members — Bob Blumenfield, Katy Yaroslavsky, Nithya Raman, Heather Hutt, Eunisses Hernandez, and Hugo Soto-Martinez — intend to expand eviction protections for tenants not covered by the rent stabilization ordinance.
“Although substantial remodels are sometimes necessary, it should not be a reason to evict a tenant from their home, and tenants should have the right to return and maintain their tenancy,” the motion reads.
Additionally, council members are concerned units that are taken off the housing market for remodeling are later made available at a higher rental price.
The motion also called for the Housing Department to report on data related to how many property owners are applying for substantial remodels, how many projects have been completed, and the number of evictions caused by efforts to electrify units.
Earlier this month, the council’s Housing and Homeless Committee voted 3-0 in favor of the motion.