Thread by @westsidelatu

Let's talk about the new protections for tenants across California #AB3088.

The law is complicated, but it must be made clear: TENANTS HAVE PROTECTIONS.

DO NOT EVICT YOURSELF.

If you can't pay rent, or your landlord is messing with you, here's what you need to know. (1/)

YOU CANNOT BE EVICTED FOR NOT PAYING RENT RIGHT NOW.

Landlords cannot try to evict tenants in California for not paying rent, as long as you've been impacted by COVID in any way, until February 1, 2021.

And certain cities, like LA, have stronger protections that remain.

Here's how it works.

Tenants are supposed to pay 25% of their rent for the period September 1 2020 to January 31 2021.

BUT that 25% is not due each month, but is due by February 1, 2021.

So not until Feb. 1 can your landlord try to evict you if you don't pay that 25%.

If tenants submit a declaration that they've been impacted by COVID *in any way* they will get these protections.

Here is a copy of that declaration: bit.ly/covid-declarat… (lower case).

If you give this to your LL, THEY CANNOT START AN EVICTION FOR NON-PAYMENT UNTIL FEB. 1.

If you pay 25% of that total rent for Sept 1 through January 31, the other 75% gets converted to regular consumer debt. This means you still owe the money, but can't be evicted for not paying it.

But we know that huge numbers of families won't be able to pay even that 25%.

Again: even if you can't pay that 25% of rent, an eviction for not paying rent CANNOT EVEN START UNTIL AFTER February 1, 2021.

And you know we'll be fighting for this to be extended, and for rent debt to be CANCELLED.

If you're in the City of LA, your protections are stronger. As long as the local emergency is in place, you don't have to pay any rent. And then you'll have 12 months from when the emergency ends to pay it back.

(Again, we are fighting for this debt to be CANCELLED.)

This doesn't mean landlords won't try to evict you anyways, for not paying rent or for anything else they choose to make up.

If you get a notice from your landlord, you need to respond quickly. Reach out to your local tenants organization ASAP. They (we) can help you fight.

We expect landlords might give BS notices claiming tenants violated their leases. Then, you have to respond within 5 business days.

The legal system is SUPER FUCKED UP. Lots of tenants get evicted because they don't respond.

This is a huge loophole in the new law.

But tenants who do respond, and tenants who are connected with tenants unions (and thus lawyers) -- have very strong protections for now.

This is not to say Gavin Newsom did a good job. This law sucks in so many ways. But people do have protections right now.

ALSO -- there's an order from the federal government that stops "no-fault" evictions through the end of 2020.

Again, though, tenants need to respond when/if landlords file the eviction. Then you can use this order as a defense against eviction in court.

TO SUMMARIZE:

- tenants have strong protections if they can't pay rent. You cannot be evicted.

- tenants also have protections against no-fault evictions.

- to make sure your rights are actually defended, you need to join a local organization like @LATenantsUnion.

Finally -- you need to connect with your neighbors and get them to join orgs like @LATenantsUnion too.

Together you have a ton of leverage over your landlord. Together you can keep each other safe.

Together we can win NO EVICTIONS and CANCEL RENT.