Landlords in L.A. Attempt to Illegally Remove Tenants Who Can't Pay Rent

Some landlords in the Los Angles area aren't adhering to eviction moratoriums. In the midst of enormous financial strain, they are employing illegal tactics to forcibly remove tenants.

1 minute read

June 26, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT

By Lee Flannery @leecflannery


Los Angeles Apartments

Parker Knight / Flickr

Los Angeles Police Department data shows that despite anti-eviction orders, landlords in the Los Angeles area are illegally and forcibly removing tenants from their homes during coronavirus lockdown. "Some Los Angeles landlords are still trying to oust tenants by locking them out of their homes, turning off their utilities and deploying other illegal methods," write Liam Dillon and Ben Poston who reviewed "290 instances of potential illegal lockouts and utility shutoffs across the city, according to the data." 

Since the onset of shelter-in-place orders, landlord-tenant disputes have increased by 17%, according to the article. Representatives of the L.A Tenants Union, a citywide organization working on behalf of tenants to block evictions, says the group has seen a massive uptick in requests for support, especially from tenants in South Los Angeles. 

Dillon and Poston discovered that a disproportionate number of the LAPD reports of landlord-tenant disputes came from neighborhoods in Black and Latino neighborhoods in South L.A., where residents are already experiencing the greatest health and financial impacts from the coronavirus in addition to extremely high rent burdens.

Thursday, June 18, 2020 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

7 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

4 hours ago - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

5 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

6 hours ago - Next City