Most rental units in the City of Torrance that have a Certificate of Occupancy issued by Building & Safety Division of the Community Development Department before January 1, 2005, are protected under the City’s eviction moratorium. Owner-occupied single-family residences and duplexes may be exempt.

The eviction moratorium became effective on October 29, 2019.

If tenants are still occupying their rental unit and the 60-day notice has not expired, the moratorium on evictions applies and the tenant(s) are protected under the eviction moratorium.

To find out if your property has a Certificate of Occupancy issued before 1/1/2005, visit: https://aca.torranceca.gov/citizenaccess/default.aspx or you may call (310) 618-5910.

A landlord must always give written notice. The reason for the termination will determine the type of notice needed.  For example, if the tenant does not pay rent when it is due, the landlord can give the tenant a 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. If the tenant does not pay rent, then the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit with the court at the end of the three days. 

If you have received a notice to terminate the tenancy and the property was built before January 1, 2005, you should contact an attorney. Here is a link to the South Bay Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service: https://southbaybar.org/lawyer-referral/. Here is a link to the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service: https://www.smartlaw.org/.  Here is a list of entities that provide legal assistance regarding housing matters that was created by the City of Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department: https://hcidla2.lacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rso_legal_referrals_english-spanish.pdf?download=0

The tenant should contact an attorney. Additionally, a hotline has been set up to assist tenants: 1-888-428-7615.

The tenant should contact an attorney immediately. In many cases, a tenant will have only five days to respond in court. Additionally, a Tenant Hotline has been set up by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (“ACCE”) to assist tenants: 1-888-428-7615.

The City Attorney does not assist or represent constituents in private legal cases. However, tenants may seek the advice of counsel from a private attorney, or a non-profit organization that specializes in assisting tenants with evictions. 

A tenant can assert an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action if a landlord does not comply with the City’s eviction moratorium. In other words, a renter can use the landlord’s refusal to follow the moratorium rules to help with their pending eviction. 

The eviction moratorium applies to all tenancies where the tenant remains in possession of their unit and the court has not issued a decision or judgment on the unlawful detainer (eviction).

The eviction moratorium applies to single-family dwellings (SFD) or any other residential property that is alienable separate from the title to any other dwelling and owned by a real estate investment trust, corporation or LLC.

At-fault just cause reasons for eviction include:

• Nonpayment of rent.
• Violation of the rental agreement.
• Nuisance, unlawful, or criminal activity.
• Assigning or subletting in violation of the lease.
• Refusing the owner reasonable access to the unit.
• Following the expiration of the initial term, refusal to sign a written extension or renewal of the lease for a further term of like duration and similar provisions.
• Failure to vacate when the rental unit was provided as a condition of employment and the employment has been terminated. 
• Failure to deliver possession after notifying the owner of the intent to vacate.