Los Angeles renters are facing challenges in coming up with rent payments as unemployment rates continue to rise. As a result, police are responding to significantly more calls about conflicts between landlords and tenants.
"In what may be an early sign of economic dislocation to come, the Los Angeles Police Department is now responding to almost three times as many disputes between landlords and tenants as it was just two months ago," reports Ethan Ward.
Ward says that an analysis of LAPD service calls shows that 100 calls related to landlord-tenant disputes came in on April 1. The daily call average jumped from 19 in February and 22 in March to 56 during the first part of April.
"The high call volume is an indication of how tensions have reached a boiling point between landlords and tenants, raising concerns about how many people could be at risk of losing their home if the shutdown persists," writes Ward.
While a temporary moratorium on evictions is in place in Los Angeles, tenant advocates are also calling for a rent freeze and anti-harassment measures to protect tenants from landlords.
Read the full story: The rent is due, call 911
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