The Los Angeles moratorium has also been extended to unincorporated areas in the county. "The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors also promulgated an executive order that provides for an eviction moratorium applicable to the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County until May 31, 2020," says Buggy. "The County moratorium provides tenants up to six months after termination of the Executive Order to repay unpaid rent during which time landlords cannot evict, and does not limit landlords' ability to charge late fees or interest."

Finally, San Diego: The city has placed an eviction moratorium on all tenants who have failed to pay rent starting March 12, 2020, as long as the tenant has given notice of non-payment to the landlord before the rent was due. "Within a week of providing such notice to the landlord, the tenant must provide evidence that the tenant's failure to pay rent is due to the financial impacts of COVID-19," says Buggy. "If the tenant does not provide evidence, the eviction moratorium does not apply.  If the tenant shows that its failure to pay rent is due to COVID-19, the landlord may not charge late fees, serve an eviction notice, or evict tenant.  Tenants will have until September 25, 2020 to repay rent, unless before that time California Governor Gavin Newsom withdraws his executive order that provides local jurisdictions authority to enact eviction moratoriums, in which case rent will be due upon such withdrawal." If tenants, instead choose to leave the premises while under moratorium, all rent will be due at the time the tenant moves out. "The ordinance will remain in effect until May 31, 2020, but landlords cannot sue for eviction until the rent-repayment period is over," adds Buggy.

While landlords do not have unlawful detainer actions at their disposal, Buggy says that there are other ways that landlords can attempt to recover lost rent. "Landlords should note that none of these ordinances prohibit landlords from recovering rent through non-eviction means," she explains. "The spirit of these eviction moratoriums is to prevent tenants from being evicted during the pandemic—not to prevent landlords from recovering rent. Landlords may choose to apply security deposits and pursue guarantees and letters of credit, if available, under a lease.  However, landlords should be aware that certain local ordinances limit a landlord's ability to require the tenant to replenish the security deposit or letter of credit if tenant is unable to do so due to financial impacts of COVID-19."