Rental Board Recommends Year-Long Eviction Protection for Wildfire Victims

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board voted on February 27 to approve a memo recommending that City Council adopt a temporary emergency ordinance providing an affirmative defense against eviction for tenants financially impacted by the Eaton Fire.

The Board amended its original February 6 recommendation to extend the protection period from six months to one year, with Board Member Christine Rodriguez noting, “I don’t think this issue will be resolved until August, to be honest. I feel like August is a [possibility] for people to start getting eviction notices and not have that protection is very concerning.”

“I agree with what Arnold [Board Member Arnold Siege] said, that we should try give it a try for the six months, what they were proposing for six months, and then see if it’s necessary to extend the time,” said Board Member Adela Torres through an interpreter, one of two dissenting votes on the amended proposal.

It was passed 9-2.

Under the recommended ordinance, tenants would self-certify their financial hardship under penalty of perjury. The protection would remain in effect for either one year or the duration of the declared emergency, whichever is longer. Tenants would still eventually owe their rent but would be protected from eviction during the covered period.

Board Member Allison Henry noted during discussion that economic impacts from disasters often unfold over time.

“We saw this during covid. Economic impact is month upon month. Sometimes I think about my partner who didn’t have work up at Mount Wilson while was on fire and it’s took a little bit of time to get back and there’s hiccups on the way.”

During the meeting, Board Members expressed concern about whether changing the language might delay the recommendation going to City Council at its Monday meeting. City staff Members reassured the Board that the amendment could likely be incorporated in time.

During public comment, concerns were raised about landlords’ ability to recoup unpaid rent and potential impacts on the housing market.

“So as I’m listening, the resolution that you’re recommending to city council, meaning the eviction moratorium, I don’t hear any suggestion of any kind of funding source for rent relief or any viable manner for a housing provider to recoup the rent. This puts the entire property and all the residents in jeopardy,” said a commenter named Deborah, who also expressed concern that the policy might signal “to the rental community that it is extremely high risk for people to rent to somebody who has lost a job or income.”

The Board also approved three additional emergency measures in response to the Eaton Fire: prohibiting evictions for tenants housing displaced pets or people, extending transient occupancy exemptions for fire victims staying in hotels beyond 30 days, and allowing landlords to temporarily reduce rent without affecting base rents or future increases.

Additionally, the Board approved refunding prorated registration fees totaling approximately $675.73 to landlords whose 11 rental units were destroyed in the fire.

Board Member Brandon Lamar spoke about the importance of public education after the measures were approved: “I would like for our revitalization department to start working on marketing materials like right now on what we can do to inform our community about this. I think this is really important.”

The amended recommendation is now expected to proceed to City Council for consideration at the Council’s upcoming meeting on Monday, March 4. If approved, the ordinance would create an affirmative defense that tenants could use in court should they face eviction proceedings due to nonpayment related to fire impacts.