A Step Toward Housing Justice: Los Angeles County Codifies “Right to Counsel” for Tenants Facing Eviction
In an effort that began in 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has officially codified the “Right to Counsel” for tenants facing eviction. This significant step creates a vital tool to prevent homelessness and levels the playing field between tenants and landlords.
Evictions disproportionately affect low-income individuals, particularly women and people of color. Access to legal help significantly reduces the likelihood of eviction and its associated harms.
Tenants served with eviction notices are often unaware of their rights. More than 43% of tenants served with an eviction complaint fail to file a response and default. Many lose their homes.
This ruling is life-changing for people like Sue*, an elderly, disabled Section 8 tenant facing the threat of eviction. Sue’s landlord issued a notice accusing her of a lease violation, a claim she didn’t fully understand and was unprepared to contest. She sought help from NLSLA, and our advocates swiftly identified that her landlord had not adhered to several key provisions of the Los Angeles County Rent Stabilization Ordinance. NLSLA’s support preserved Sue’s housing and safeguarded her dignity and stability during a challenging time. Without this intervention, Sue would have faced the devastating prospect of losing her home and struggling alone.
“If tenants don’t understand their rights, those rights hold no value,” explained NLSLA Director of Pro Bono Skip Koenig.
“This ordinance codifies the right to legal representation, acknowledging the need for widely available eviction defense and educating more tenants about the help available to them,” added Daniel Choi, an NLSLA tenant rights attorney.
When then-Supervisor Sheila Kuehl asked NLSLA to participate in discussions around the “Right to Counsel” in Los Angeles County, the organization, led by Koenig, immediately stepped in. Collaborating with a coalition of community-based organizations and other legal aid providers, NLSLA engaged in weekly meetings and advocacy efforts to support this cause.
“This codification of a ‘Right to Counsel’ is a monumental step forward,” said Koenig. “Low-income tenants will finally have a fair chance against landlords in court. This is essentially a homelessness prevention program. By helping people fight eviction and stay in their homes, we are directly addressing one of the root causes of homelessness.”
The impact of legal representation cannot be understated. The “Right to Counsel” in eviction cases has proven to be a lifeline for many, and NLSLA continues to work to implement similar ordinance in the City of Los Angeles and other cities in L.A. County.
*Client’s name changed for confidentiality
