Order does not relieve a tenant from obligation to pay rent
In partnership with all seven incorporated cities in San Luis Obispo County, (including: Cities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, El Paso de Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo), County Emergency Services Director Wade Horton issued an executive order today suspending evictions by landlords related to any rental property in San Luis Obispo County for failure to pay rent, foreclosure or decrease in household or business income due to COVID-19. These types of evictions are suspended through May 21, 2020.
The local order is in line with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order suspending any provision of state law prohibiting a local government from exercising its police power to impose substantive limitations on residential or commercial evictions.
“No one should be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19 in our county,” Horton said. “We are all making sacrifices during this crisis and I want to make sure we protect our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues and make sure they continue to have a place to live.”
Nothing is this order shall relieve a tenant of the obligation to pay rent, nor restrict a landlord’s ability to recover rent due.
This order impacts only evictions on the basis of non-payment of rent or a foreclosure, arising out of a substantial decrease in household or business income or substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses, due to COVID-19.
The Department of Business Oversight, in consultation with the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, shall engage with financial institutions to identify tools to be used to afford Californians relief from the threat of residential foreclosure and displacement, and to otherwise promote housing security and stability during this state of emergency. This information will be posted to ReadySLO.org as it is received, as well as the latest public health updates and recommendations. Recorded Public Health information is available Public Health at (805) 788- 2903, and the COVID-19 Phone Assistance Center at (805) 543-2444, is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
