Effective August 25, 2025, a newly adopted City of Los Angeles ordinance—the Right to Counsel Program Ordinance—introduces new legal requirements for rental housing providers. This measure is part of the City’s broader effort to ensure legal representation for tenants facing eviction.
The ordinance mandates several new compliance steps for landlords and property managers with rental units in Los Angeles:
- At the Start of Tenancy: A Notice of Right to Counsel must be provided to new tenants in their primary language. The City will soon offer multilingual versions of this notice on its official housing website.
- During Eviction or Subsidy Termination: If a landlord issues an eviction notice or a notice terminating rental assistance (such as Section 8), they must include the Notice of Right to Counsel along with those documents.
- For Section 8-Related Correspondence: Any administrative actions or written communications that could result in the termination of a tenant’s rental subsidy must also be accompanied by the same notice.
- On-Site Posting Requirement: The notice must be visibly posted in a common area within the building. English-language signage will be available for purchase through the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles.
Noncompliance carries potential legal consequences. If landlords fail to meet these obligations, qualifying tenants may use that failure as an affirmative defense in eviction cases.
Landlords should review their leasing and notice procedures now to ensure full compliance. To access the official notice and stay updated on implementation, visit: housing.lacity.gov/rtc.
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