KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The Santa Clarita City Council is set to discuss a rent protection ordinance for the city “early next week” to aid residents impacted by the outbreak of COVD-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus.
The impacts of the “Safer at Home” restrictions issued by Los Angeles County have left many Santa Clarita residents unsure of how they are going to be able to meet their monthly rent payments.
While Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued an eviction moratorium for unincorporated areas of the county, the City of Santa Clarita does not fall under that order.
“It’s important that the residents within the city limits have the same protections as those living in unincorporated areas of the county,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth. “We recognize that this is an unprecedented time for all of us. I certainly agree that people shouldn’t lose their homes or their businesses because they have been forced out of work through no fault of their own.”
Smyth said that unlike other cities such as Los Angeles, actions on rent such as an eviction moratorium or similar protections must be adopted by the whole of the city council.
“As mayor of Santa Clarita, I do not have the same authority as the mayor of Los Angeles, who can unilaterally adopt such an emergency ordinance,” he said.
Smyth also clarified that the ordinance would not be a “rent forgiveness program,” but rather a program that “allows protections that while you are out of work out of government direction, you cannot be evicted.”
“If you can pay your rent, we still encourage people to do so,” he said.
The discussion of such protections by the Santa Clarita City Council has been delayed in part by the Safer at Home restrictions themselves, as officials have been trying to figure out how to host the whole of the city council for a meeting with full public participation without placing anyone at risk with a large gathering.
“It’s still being worked out,” Smyth said. “We are looking at some other cities and agencies who have had meetings since the ordinance has gone in place.”
The mayor said that the council’s goal is to adopt an ordinance before April 1.
The format for the meeting is expected to be announced by Friday, according to Smyth.
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My family and I rent a house in Saugus. In February we signed our new lease. When all this broke out with the virus my wife and daughter lost their jobs do to it. Landlord texted me and said we needed to talk. I notified her that they are unemployed she replied “I am terminating the lease”. I received a letter days later. 60 day notice. What can we do? Is this even legal.
I think this is incredibly abhorrent as to the LandLord/Property owners behavior under the circumstances. Greed is insidious. I am generally not a proponent of public shaming but I think in regards to this instance one would be doing a public service ifor the benefit of future renters so that they might be informed as to the kind of lack of empathy this person, persons or corporation possess during a time of world wide crisis for their tenants. Shame on this person or entity. They should be outed!!
Hopefully some legal protections will be in place for you soon. Thank-you for speaking out about this issue.
If the lease is signed he must abide by it. He can not terminate it now. I would just continue to pay what you can. He can not remove you without a court order. I have rental property and I have asked my tenants to pay what they can and lets just try and work together. I still have to pay the mortgage, taxes, insurance and Homeowner dues. So I can not afford not to get the rent either.
You sound like a great landlord, I would love to have you for my housing needs, wish there were more of you out here. Are you currently looking for a Tennant ?
Hello my name is Jabier, I have a question about the rent. We rent an apartment in canyon country and we both, don’t have a job as right now, I read the State Gov. Said something about mortgage payments but not about the people that we rent.
My business sense is that the City of Santa Clarita, city staff and city council will not have to take any action as the Governor will issue an executive order on this subject.
Once the Governor issues his order in regard to rent payments – the city council will not have to take any further action.
If the Governor does not issue an executive order on this subject, council then should direct city staff to gather what other action cities and counties in California have taken thus far.
City council needs to be cautious if they are intending to enact such an ordinance. Is the city prepared to be the referee between tenant and landlord over what constitutes a hardship, and the documentation requirements as to when a person can’t pay their rent?
If I were the council, I would stay away from this and let the Governor weigh in, just as he has done with sone of the big banks and credit unions in regard to mortgages.
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
The Renter loses their job and cannot afford to pay their rent.
The Landlord doesn’t get paid and cannot afford to pay their mortgage.
The lender doesn’t get paid and cannot afford to pay their employees so they get laid off.
It will take a “comprehensive” plan by the government to try and protect all parties to this problem.
Whenever a “comprehensive” plan needs to be done by the government it takes actual real work to get that done and we know how that turns out.
Dave H: How true—a BIG problem that affects many!! A shame, many suffer!!
Hello I lived in Newhall does the rent increased also apply here or just LA City? My rent is going to increase by May my landlord informed that only applies to LA City. What type of help are we getting here if we don’t have the same right as LA City. I also lost my job due to the virus.