Legal Issues Relevant to COVID-19
The California Lawyers Association has prepared a variety of videos for the public addressing various legal issues that are arising due to COVID-19. Issues covered include employment, family, small business, and real estate.
Click the link to visit the page: https://calawyers.org/covid-19-public-resources/#videos
COVID-19 Tenant Resources: Click HERE
California Renters: COVID-19 Eviction Protections
UPDATE: On June 28, 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 832, which will extend existing COVID-19 protections through September 30, 2021.
More information on SB 91 (COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act)
SB 91, effective February 1, 2021, says that:
- Tenants cannot be evicted for ANY rent they were unable to pay starting in March 1st and through August 31st, 2020. However, landlords can take you to small claims court for the owed rent during said time frame beginning August 1st, 2021.
- If tenants are currently unable to pay full rent from September 1st, 2020 — June 30, 2021, your landlord still may not evict you so long as tenants complete the following:
- Tenant must provide landlord with a declaration of impacts COVID-19 [see sample below] has had to their household, within 15 days of receiving a nonpayment of rent eviction notice from their landlord. For proof of documentation tenants are recommended to send by certified mail.
- Tenants must pay a minimum of 25% of rent for the months of September 2020 — June 2021 no later than June 30th, 2021. The 25% payment can be made as installments or in one lump sum so long as your 25% payment is made by June 30th, 2021.
- On July 1, 2021: tenants are expected to pay their rent in full to avoid eviction.
- Starting August 1, 2021: landlords can take tenants to small claims court for unpaid COVID-19 rent debt accrued March 1st, 2020 — January 31st, 2021.
- Until July 1st, 2021: landlords must give a just-cause reason to evict a tenant in California per the protections outlined in AB 1482 [Tenant Protection Act of 2019].
- Other types of evictions will proceed, including no-fault and Ellis Act evictions. (*information from www.tenantstogether.org)
More Information:
California’s Housing is Key Website: For tenants, landlords, & homeowners
California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program
Nolo.com: COVID-19 California Eviction Moratoriums
New Laws Apply to Eviction Cases: California Courts website that has general information about recent state legislation, the CDC moratorium, checklists for tenants and landlords, and court forms
Declaration of COVID-19-Related Financial Distress (TENANT) English / Spanish
CA Dept. of Real Estate: Rent Increases: Basic Information for Tenants
City/County Eviction Ordinances Due to COVID-19: While comprehensive, this list may not include every city and county ordinance
Factsheet: Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020
News Articles on Yahoo, NPR, KTLA 5
Ventura County Pandemic Rental Assistance – Program Closed July 2020
Access Nolo Titles Online with EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center
A database with full-text access to self-help guides for people inexperienced with legal issues. Written in plain English, these books provide great step-by-step and informational guides for non-attorneys faced with legal issues.- Includes popular NOLO titles: Fight your Ticket and Win in California, Everybody’s Guide to Small Claims Court in California, The Guardianship Book for California, How to Probate an Estate in California, The California Landlord’s Law Guide: Evictions, The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities, California Tenants’ Rights, and Win Your Lawsuit: Sue in California Superior Court Without a Lawyer.
- This database is available outside of the library for residents of Ventura County. Click here to access it.
Current Nolo titles:
This spreadsheet of the library’s current Nolo titles is divided into three sheets: Subject, Title, Class # (location).
Court Self Help Centers
The Ventura Superior Court has created self-help videos available on YouTube. Click HERE to watch.
The Court operated Self Help Centers are available at the Ventura Hall of Justice, the Simi Valley Courthouse, and the Juvenile Courthouse in Oxnard. See the fliers below for hours, addresses, and contact information.
Family Law Self Help at the Hall of Justice in Ventura: Promotional Flier.
The Family Resource Center at the Juvenile Courthouse in Oxnard: Promotional Flier.
The Self Help Legal Access Center in Ventura, Oxnard, and Simi Valley provides general information on how to fill out and file court forms in the following types of civil cases: Eviction/Unlawful Detainer, Collection, Guardianship, Conservatorship, Civil Harassment Restraining Order, Name Change, Step-Parent & Adult Adoption, and Expungements (Misdemeanor & Infractions only): Promotional Flier.
Other Sources of Legal Help
Law Library staff have developed this list of local low or no cost providers of legal help in and around Ventura County: Low Cost Legal Services and Support Services.