Los Angeles has seen over 40,000 eviction notices sent to tenants since the start of this year. Surprisingly, many of these were issued to residents of upscale apartment buildings in downtown LA, Hollywood, and Woodland Hills. The data, collected by the city for the first time, provides insight into the eviction process which often begins with a three-day notice to pay overdue rent or vacate the premises.

Research suggests that large property management companies often automate their eviction processes, leading to higher eviction rates. This trend is evident in Los Angeles, where nearly 94% of the eviction notices issued were three-day notices to pay or move out, with 96% being due to nonpayment of rent.

While some landlords claim these notices are simply reminders when rent is late, legally, they are the first step towards a court case that could result in the tenant being evicted. It’s unclear how many of these notices have led to actual lawsuits.

Some in Violation of Local Regulations

The city’s data also revealed that approximately 4,300 eviction notices were issued for amounts below a month’s fair market rent, which violates local regulations. However, it’s difficult to determine whether landlords are complying with these rules due to lack of information about when the debt was incurred.

Eviction lawsuits in LA county have risen by 74% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, reaching the highest level since 2016. This increase comes as pandemic restrictions end and landlords begin to clear a backlog of cases.

Read more at the LA Times.