Tougher Eviction Laws Tentatively OKd

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted preliminary approval of ordinances to double the relocation fee that landlords must pay when they evict tenants to make major renovations and to place a ban on these evictions for a six-month period.

Under the ordinances, which were approved 10 to 2 but require a final vote next week, landlords would be temporarily prohibited from ordering evictions to allow rehabilitation work.

Relocation allowances, applying to some pending cases and to all tenants affected after the eviction moratorium ends, would increase from $2,500 to $5,000 for the elderly, the disabled and those with families and from $1,000 to $2,000 for others forced to move from premises because of major improvement work.