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California Bill Would Give Tenants Until 2034 To Repay Rent Missed During COVID Emergency

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - A San Fernando Valley lawmaker wants to give tenants struggling to repay rent during the coronavirus shutdown another decade to pay it back.

California Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) co-authored Senate Bill 1410, which calls for landlords and tenants to enter into a "rent stabilization agreement" prior to eviction for failure to pay rent.

The landlord would then have to verify that a renter declined to enter into the agreement, at which point the state of California would assume the debt and give renters until 2034 - 10 years from when the program would take effect - to make repayments on unpaid rent dating back to March 4.

SB1410 would prohibit property owners from "demanding payment of unpaid rent, serving a notice terminating tenancy, or filing a complaint for unlawful detainer".

The bill is currently in committee.

Los Angeles County issued a moratorium in March halting all residential and commercial evictions amid the coronavirus outbreak. Under that moratorium, tenants were given up to six months to repay any missed rent.

That moratorium is set to expire on June 30.

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