Extending Eviction Moratorium Would Hurt Both Landlords and Tenants

California needs more housing. Extending a moratorium on evicting tenants who haven’t paid their rent would prompt landlords to take apartments off the market, making the state’s severe housing shortage even worse. And could happen in the next few weeks. 

On June 30, a previous eviction moratorium, Assembly Bill 2179, expires. But a new moratorium might be imposed by the state Legislature and cities like San Francisco. And, to make matters worse, places like the City of Los Angeles, Oakland, L.A. County, and Alameda County have no plans to lift their laws that let tenants live rent free since the early days of the pandemic. The earlier relief was for those who lost jobs during the peak of the COVID pandemic, but we’ve turned a corner. . Landlords were expecting finally to again get the rental income they need for new roofs, plumbing and other upkeep.

A pointless new moratorium would land an especially heavy blow on the “Mom and Pop” landlords who might own a duplex, living in one unit while renting out the other. Or it could be a retiree depending on income from the home they owned and now rent out while they live elsewhere.  And all landlords are being hit hard as inflation drives up prices across the country, especially for building supplies.

These landlords commonly are single parents, immigrants, retirees. For immigrants, buying a small complex is a great way to start a small business, getting a toehold in the American Dream.

The moratorium has forced many landlords to consider converting their apartments to condos, actually cutting the supply of apartments. Or they could sell the units to someone who might tear down the older, affordable homes for other uses. 

Mom-and-pop landlords also can’t afford special teams of lawyers to deal with any problems with the legislation. Small landlords hit with legal bills have another reason to sell while tenants are often given free attorneys and countless hours of legal advice on the taxpayer’s dime.

With COVID reaching the “endemic phase,” as Gov Newsom declared recently, the state needs to return to normalcy. That means returning to pre-covid standards for tenancy. It means encouraging greater supply through protecting the rights of small mom-and-pop landlords so they have the ability to continue providing quality, affordable housing for our community.