If you own a rent-controlled or AB 1482-covered property in Los Angeles and plan to terminate a tenancy for any no-fault reason, you owe statutory relocation assistance before the tenant vacates. The amount is not negotiable, it is set by ordinance, and it stacks differently across LA City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and unincorporated LA County. Relocation assistance for Los Angeles landlords is one of the most underestimated line items in a no-fault eviction, and miscalculating it invalidates the underlying notice. Borna Houman Law represents Westside property owners through the relocation-payment calculation, escrow, and statutory disclosure process.
Key Takeaway: A Los Angeles landlord terminating a tenancy on any no-fault ground must pay statutory relocation assistance. State law under Civil Code § 1946.2(d) requires one month’s rent for AB 1482-covered properties. LARSO relocation under LAMC § 151.09(G) is higher and varies by tenant tenure and qualified status. Payment must be made before the tenant vacates, or the eviction notice is invalidated.
When Does a Los Angeles Landlord Have to Pay Relocation Assistance?
Relocation assistance is triggered by any no-fault termination of a covered tenancy. The five most common triggers are owner move-in eviction under SB 567 and Civil Code § 1946.2(b)(2)(A), withdrawal from the rental market under the Ellis Act (Gov. Code § 7060), substantial remodel under § 1946.2(b)(2)(D), demolition, and government order requiring vacancy. Each ground has its own ordinance procedure that must be followed in addition to the state notice requirements.
At-fault terminations (nonpayment, breach of lease, nuisance, criminal activity) do not require relocation assistance under state law or local ordinance. The distinction between at-fault and no-fault is what separates an inexpensive 45-day eviction from a $20,000+ statutory payment obligation. In our experience representing LA property owners, the most expensive mistake is mischaracterizing a no-fault termination as at-fault to avoid the payment, which exposes the landlord to triple damages under § 1946.2(h)(1).
How Much Is Relocation Assistance in Los Angeles in 2026?
The amount depends on three variables: the governing jurisdiction (state AB 1482 vs. LARSO vs. Santa Monica vs. Beverly Hills vs. West Hollywood), the tenant’s length of tenancy, and whether the tenant has qualified protected status (senior, disabled, minor in household, lower income). The state AB 1482 minimum is one month’s rent, paid in writing as a direct relocation payment or as a written waiver of the last month’s rent under § 1946.2(d)(3).
LARSO relocation under LAMC § 151.09(G) is structured as fixed dollar amounts adjusted annually by the Los Angeles Housing Department. As of the 2025–2026 adjustment, base LARSO relocation is $9,200 for studios, larger for one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units, with a higher schedule for qualified tenants (senior, disabled, minor, or lower-income). Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood each publish their own schedules that exceed the LARSO base.
| Jurisdiction | Statute / Ordinance | Typical 2025-2026 Range | Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| State (AB 1482) | Civ. Code § 1946.2(d) | 1 month’s rent | No-fault termination of covered tenancy |
| LARSO (LA City) | LAMC § 151.09(G) | $9,200 – $24,650+ per unit | No-fault eviction of rent-stabilized unit; higher for qualified tenants |
| Santa Monica | SMMC § 4.36.020 | $25,940+ per unit (2025 schedule) | Owner move-in, Ellis, substantial remodel |
| Beverly Hills | BHMC § 4-6-6 | $15,000+ per unit; higher schedule for qualified tenants | No-fault eviction under chapter 6 rent stabilization |
| West Hollywood | WHMC § 17.52.090 | ~$3.50 per sq. ft. or set unit floor, whichever is greater | Ellis, owner move-in, substantial remodel |
| Unincorporated LA County | LACC § 8.52.090 | 2 months’ rent + $1,000 moving costs (qualified tenants higher) | No-fault termination of covered unit |
The numbers in the table are direct payments to the tenant. They are owed in addition to whatever the lease and security deposit terms say. The Los Angeles Housing Department publishes a current schedule each July that landlords must use for any notice served on or after the adjustment date.
When Must the Landlord Pay Relocation Assistance?
Timing is jurisdiction-specific and critical. Under AB 1482, payment is due at the time of the notice or as a written waiver of the last month’s rent under Civil Code § 1946.2(d)(3). Under LARSO, half of the relocation amount is due within 15 days of service of the notice, and the balance is due when the tenant vacates. Santa Monica and Beverly Hills follow similar split-payment schedules tied to the notice and surrender dates.
The most common mistake we see is landlords who serve the notice and wait until move-out to pay relocation. Under LARSO and most local ordinances, that timing alone invalidates the notice. The tenant can stay, the unlawful detainer is dismissed, and the relocation clock resets with a new notice.
What Counts as a Qualified Protected Tenant?
Most LA County ordinances increase the relocation amount when the displaced tenant is 62 years or older, disabled, has a minor child in the household, or earns less than 80% of area median income. Documentation requirements vary: LARSO requires self-certification by the tenant, while Santa Monica may require independent verification. The landlord cannot demand proof beyond what the ordinance authorizes; over-demanding documentation can be the basis for a retaliation or harassment claim under Civil Code § 1942.5.
Does Ellis Act Relocation Differ From Owner Move-In Relocation?
Yes. The Ellis Act (Gov. Code § 7060) has its own state relocation framework that local ordinances supplement. Ellis withdrawal requires a 120-day notice for most tenants and one year for tenants 62+ or disabled. The state Ellis Act does not set a relocation amount; local ordinances do. LARSO Ellis relocation tracks the LAMC § 151.09(G) schedule with the extended notice period. Santa Monica’s Ellis Act ordinance under SMMC chapter 4.42 sets a separate, generally higher relocation amount.
Owner move-in (OMI) eviction under SB 567 (2024) and Civil Code § 1946.2(b)(2)(A) is structurally different. SB 567 added an enforceable 12-month owner occupancy requirement, with civil penalties for landlords who fail to occupy or who re-rent within 12 months. The OMI relocation amount tracks the local ordinance schedule for the property. Our SB 567 compliance guide covers the full procedural sequence for OMI evictions.
What Happens If a Los Angeles Landlord Underpays or Pays Late?
Underpayment invalidates the notice. The tenant can raise the underpayment as an affirmative defense in the unlawful detainer, get the case dismissed, and recover attorney’s fees if the lease has a prevailing-party clause. Continuing the eviction without paying invites a Civil Code § 1942.5 retaliation claim and, under § 1946.2(h)(1), exposes the landlord to actual damages plus a civil penalty of up to three times the violation amount.
Late payment is also actionable. LARSO requires the first installment within 15 days of service. Missing that deadline does not always void the eviction outright, but it gives the tenant a strong harassment claim and often leads to settlement on terms favorable to the tenant. The clean approach is to wire or hand-deliver the first installment at the same time the notice is served, with a written acknowledgment.
How Should a Landlord Document the Relocation Payment?
Document everything in writing and in the form the ordinance demands. The disclosure to the tenant must state the no-fault ground, the amount of relocation owed, the payment schedule, and the tenant’s right to elect a waiver of the last month’s rent (for AB 1482 properties). Payment should be made by cashier’s check or wire with a delivery receipt, not by personal check that can bounce or be lost in transit.
The notice file should include the original lease, the rent ledger, the relocation calculation worksheet, the notice itself with proof of service, the cashier’s check or wire confirmation, and any tenant declarations about qualified status. We keep a duplicate file for each no-fault eviction because the documentation often resurfaces in a wrongful eviction lawsuit two or three years later. The discipline of the front-end paperwork is what wins those cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Relocation Assistance for LA Landlords
Do I owe relocation assistance if I evict for nonpayment of rent in Los Angeles?
No. At-fault terminations under Civil Code § 1946.2(b)(1) (nonpayment, breach of lease, nuisance, criminal activity) do not require relocation assistance. Only no-fault grounds under § 1946.2(b)(2) and the corresponding LARSO, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood no-fault grounds trigger payment.
Is the AB 1482 relocation amount in addition to the LARSO amount?
No. The higher of the two applies. Civil Code § 1946.2(g)(1)(B) defers to local ordinances when they provide stronger tenant protections. For LARSO-covered units, the LAMC § 151.09(G) schedule controls because it exceeds the state minimum.
Can a tenant waive relocation assistance?
Tenants can waive the last month’s rent in lieu of a direct payment under Civil Code § 1946.2(d)(3) for AB 1482 properties. Most local ordinances do not permit waiver of statutory relocation in any other form. Any attempted lease clause requiring waiver of relocation is unenforceable under Civil Code § 1953.
What if the tenant refuses to accept the relocation payment?
The landlord still owes the payment and must tender it in a form the ordinance accepts. Deposit the funds with the Los Angeles Housing Department or the appropriate rent control board if the tenant refuses to accept, and document the deposit. Refusal by the tenant does not extinguish the obligation, but proper tender preserves the eviction.
Does the relocation amount apply per unit or per tenant?
Per unit under most LA County ordinances, regardless of the number of named tenants on the lease. LARSO, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills all calculate the base amount per dwelling unit. The qualified-tenant uplift applies if any one resident of the unit qualifies; the landlord does not pay multiple uplifts for multiple qualified residents in the same unit.
Do I have to pay relocation if I am selling the property rather than evicting?
Sale alone does not trigger relocation. Relocation is triggered by the no-fault termination of a tenancy. If the new owner inherits the tenancy and later evicts on a no-fault ground, that new owner pays the relocation. Some sale contracts assign or apportion the potential relocation liability between seller and buyer; that is a contract issue, not a statutory shift.
Talk to a Los Angeles Landlord Attorney About Relocation Assistance
If you are planning a no-fault eviction in Los Angeles County and need the relocation amount calculated, the notice drafted, and the payment timed to preserve the eviction, the front-end paperwork is what makes the difference. Borna Houman Law represents landlords across the Westside, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and West Hollywood, and serves property owners throughout LA County. Call (888) 42-BORNA to schedule a confidential consultation. Related landlord guides: our owner move-in eviction guide under SB 567, our Ellis Act eviction guide, and our LARSO compliance guide for LA landlords.
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Borna Houman Law. Relocation assistance amounts and procedures are jurisdiction-specific and updated annually. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed California attorney. Authoritative sources: Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 and the Los Angeles Housing Department.
