The City Council on Tuesday advanced a proposal to codify and reinstate a COVID-era policy that ensures tenants can keep pets in their rental units without fear of eviction.
Council members voted 14-0 in favor of the proposal, with Councilman Curren Price absent during the vote. The recommendation calls for the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance amending the city’s pet laws as they relate to rental units.
Specifically, the law, if approved, would require landlords and building managers to allow any pet residing in a rental unit until the tenant moves or relocates the animal. In addition, tenants would be required to notify their landlords of any pets acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Greater Apartment Association of Los Angeles, told City News Service that he was concerned about the impact the law would have on landlords.
He said pets could cause problems for other tenants in the building who may be allergic to them, scare them or perhaps result in a “bad incident.”
Yukelson added, “Especially when you’re turning over a unit, there’s often some damage left behind, such as stained carpets or other property destruction.”
“The City Council has once again created another burden for rental housing providers,” Yukelson said. “These keep adding up. People are going to want to get out of the rental business and don’t want to be in Los Angeles.”
The council’s Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment and Housing and Homelessness committees previously approved the recommendation.
In October, Larry Gross, president of the city’s Board of Animal Services Commissioners, presented the motion to the three-member Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee.
Gross said reinstating the policy would prevent many tenants from being evicted because of their pets. He added that many people give up their pets because landlords require it or because pets can be a reason for eviction.
In March 2020, the City Council adopted COVID-related tenant protections that allowed tenants living in “no-pet” buildings to either foster or adopt animals. However, the city rescinded those protections when it ended the COVID 19 state of emergency earlier this year.
“A lot of situations right now for tenants who have brought in animals are in violation of their rental agreement or their lease because they brought in those pets as emotional support animals during the pandemic,” Gross told the committee.
He noted that some of these animals have lived with their families for nearly four years, and telling them they have to give up their pets is “cruel.”
It will force tenants to choose between giving up a family member, moving, or going to the streets,” Gross said.
The proposal to reinstate the policy would allow animals living in rental units to stay there. If the animal leaves or the tenant moves out, the landlord or property owner can convert the unit.
