Landlord Compliance · Relocation Assistance · Los Angeles County
How Much Does a Los Angeles Landlord Owe in Tenant Relocation Assistance?
Justin Borges, DRE #01940318 · 11 min read · Updated July 26, 2026
A Los Angeles landlord who ends a tenancy for a no-fault reason, such as an owner move-in, an Ellis Act withdrawal, or a government-ordered vacancy, generally owes the tenant relocation assistance. The dollar amount is not one flat number: it depends on which of two tenant categories the household falls into, how long the tenant has lived there, and which of the city's relocation schedules applies. LAHD (1-866-557-7368) adjusts the current figures periodically; this guide explains how to find them and confirm which schedule applies before serving notice.
Older guides to Los Angeles relocation assistance, including prior versions of this page, have printed specific dollar amounts. Those figures could not be confirmed against a current, directly-verified LAHD source at the time this page was written, and different secondary sources disagree with each other on the current numbers. Because relocation assistance is a legal payment obligation, and an outdated number could cause a landlord to underpay a tenant who is owed more, this article explains how the amount is determined and directs you to LAHD directly at 1-866-557-7368 or housing.lacity.gov for the current published schedule, rather than repeating an unconfirmed figure.
Sources: California Government Code §7060.4 (Ellis Act notice periods); Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) relocation assistance program.
What You Will Learn
- What Triggers Relocation Assistance for a Los Angeles Landlord?
- Which Tenants Qualify for the Higher "Qualified" Relocation Amount?
- What Factors Determine the Exact Relocation Amount in Los Angeles?
- Does Los Angeles Use One Relocation Schedule or Two?
- When Must a Los Angeles Landlord Pay Relocation Assistance?
- Which Los Angeles Evictions Do Not Require Relocation Payments?
- How Do I Find the Current Los Angeles Relocation Assistance Schedule?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Triggers Relocation Assistance for a Los Angeles Landlord?
Relocation assistance in Los Angeles is tied to no-fault evictions, meaning the tenant did not do anything wrong and is being asked to leave for a reason related to the property itself. The most common triggers are an owner or qualifying family member moving into the unit, a permanent withdrawal of the entire rental building from the market under the Ellis Act, a government agency ordering the unit vacated for health or safety reasons, and permit-approved demolition or substantial remodeling that requires the unit to sit vacant (LAHD).
A Los Angeles landlord considering any of these paths should assume a relocation payment obligation exists and confirm the applicable amount before serving notice, rather than discovering the obligation after a tenant or the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) raises it.
The number landlords want is the dollar figure. The number that actually protects them is knowing which schedule and which tenant category applies before they serve notice.
Justin Borges, CA DRE #01940318Which Tenants Qualify for the Higher "Qualified" Relocation Amount?
Los Angeles relocation assistance is not a single number; it starts with a two-tier tenant classification. A standard, or eligible, tenant is a household that does not meet any special protected criteria. A qualified tenant is a household that includes a member who is 62 or older, a person with a disability, or a minor child, and in some versions of the LAHD schedule, a low-income household as well (LAHD). Qualified tenants are positioned to receive a meaningfully higher relocation amount than standard tenants under the published schedule.
Because this classification is decided on a household basis, a Los Angeles landlord should confirm the correct category directly with LAHD rather than assuming, since misclassifying a qualified tenant as standard is one of the more common and costly relocation mistakes.
What Factors Determine the Exact Relocation Amount in Los Angeles?
Tenant category is the first variable, but not the only one. LAHD's relocation framework also weighs how long the tenant has lived in the unit, with longer tenancies generally tied to a higher amount than shorter ones. Unit size and building type can factor in as well, since a single-family dwelling with a natural-person owner has historically been treated differently in some Los Angeles relocation frameworks than a larger multi-unit building (LAHD).
| No-Fault Reason for Ending the Tenancy | Relocation Assistance Generally Owed? | Governing Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or qualifying family member move-in | Yes | LAHD / RSO relocation program |
| Ellis Act withdrawal of the entire building | Yes, under a separate schedule | Gov. Code §7060.4 / LAMC |
| Government-ordered vacancy (code enforcement) | Yes | LAHD relocation program |
| Permit-approved demolition or condo conversion | Yes | LAHD relocation program |
| Non-payment of rent | No | RSO / JCO just-cause rules |
| Lease violation or nuisance | No | RSO / JCO just-cause rules |
Because so many variables feed into a single dollar figure, and because that figure changes as LAHD updates its schedule, this article walks through the variables rather than a number that could already be out of date by the time you read it. Call LAHD at 1-866-557-7368 to apply your property's specific facts to the current schedule.
Does Los Angeles Use One Relocation Schedule or Two?
Los Angeles appears to maintain two separate relocation frameworks rather than one universal schedule: an ordinary no-fault relocation program that covers owner move-ins, government-ordered vacancies, and similar triggers, and a distinct schedule tied specifically to Ellis Act withdrawals, which is a state-law process for permanently removing a building from the rental market (LAHD). The two schedules are not necessarily interchangeable, and a landlord who assumes the ordinary no-fault figures apply to an Ellis Act withdrawal, or the reverse, risks paying the wrong amount.
| Relocation Schedule | Applies When | Where the Current Figures Are Published |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary no-fault RSO relocation | Owner move-in, demolition, government-ordered vacancy, condo conversion | LAHD relocation assistance program |
| Ellis Act withdrawal relocation | Permanent removal of the entire building from the rental market under the Ellis Act | Separate LAHD / LAMC Ellis Act schedule |
If your property is heading toward an Ellis Act withdrawal specifically, confirm with LAHD which schedule governs that filing before quoting any figure to a tenant, and treat the two programs as separate questions rather than one.
When Must a Los Angeles Landlord Pay Relocation Assistance?
Relocation assistance in Los Angeles is generally due at or shortly after the written termination notice is served on the tenant, not held until the tenant actually vacates the unit. Payment can typically be made directly or placed into an approved escrow arrangement (LAHD), and the obligation is not reduced or waived based on the tenant's individual financial circumstances or ability to find other housing quickly.
Because the exact number of days can vary by eviction type and has been revised in the past, confirm the current timing requirement for your specific situation directly with LAHD before serving notice, and keep documentation of the payment date alongside the notice itself. A landlord who serves notice before confirming both the amount and the timing is the one most likely to face a tenant dispute later in the process.
Which Los Angeles Evictions Do Not Require Relocation Payments?
Relocation assistance is tied to no-fault evictions specifically. A Los Angeles landlord ending a tenancy for an at-fault reason, meaning the tenant violated the lease, failed to pay rent, or created a nuisance, is generally not required to pay relocation assistance for that termination. The distinction between fault-based and no-fault grounds is the same just-cause framework that governs eviction notices generally under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the Just Cause Ordinance.
Landlords should be cautious about mischaracterizing a no-fault reason as an at-fault one to avoid the payment. LAHD and the courts scrutinize the stated reason for an eviction closely, and a mischaracterized notice can expose a landlord to the exact dispute the relocation payment was meant to prevent.
How Do I Find the Current Los Angeles Relocation Assistance Schedule?
The most reliable path is to contact LAHD directly at 1-866-557-7368, or to review the relocation assistance information published at housing.lacity.gov, and to ask specifically which schedule (ordinary no-fault versus Ellis Act) applies to your eviction, plus which tenant category applies to your specific household (LAHD). Because these figures are adjusted on a recurring basis, treat any number you find, including figures in other online articles, as a starting point to confirm rather than a final answer.
A Los Angeles landlord weighing whether an owner move-in, an Ellis Act withdrawal, or a straightforward sale makes more financial sense should look at the relocation obligation as one input in that decision, not the whole picture. A conversation about your property's current value and what a tenant-occupied sale might look like can often clarify the better path faster than working through the relocation math alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much relocation assistance must a Los Angeles landlord pay a tenant?
The exact amount varies by tenant category (standard versus qualified), length of tenancy, and which relocation schedule applies to the eviction. The City publishes a schedule that is adjusted periodically, so confirm the current figures with LAHD at 1-866-557-7368 or housing.lacity.gov before serving any notice.
Which tenants qualify for the higher qualified relocation amount in Los Angeles?
LAHD generally recognizes a qualified tenant category for households that include a member who is 62 or older, a person with a disability, or a minor child. Qualified tenants are set to receive a higher relocation amount than standard, or eligible, tenants under the published schedule (LAHD).
Does the relocation amount depend on how long the tenant has lived in the unit?
Yes. The LAHD schedule ties the relocation amount partly to length of tenancy in addition to tenant category and, in some cases, unit type, so two tenants in the same building can be owed different amounts.
Are Ellis Act relocation payments the same as ordinary no-fault RSO relocation payments in Los Angeles?
Not necessarily. Los Angeles appears to maintain a separate relocation schedule specifically for Ellis Act withdrawals, distinct from the schedule used for other no-fault evictions such as owner move-in. Confirm which schedule applies to your specific eviction type with LAHD before relying on any published figure.
When must a Los Angeles landlord pay relocation assistance relative to the eviction notice?
Relocation assistance is generally due at or shortly after the written termination notice is served, not left until the tenant moves out, and payment obligations are not reduced based on the tenant's individual financial circumstances. Confirm the exact timing requirement for your eviction type directly with LAHD.
What happens if a Los Angeles landlord does not pay required relocation assistance?
A landlord who fails to pay required relocation assistance can face a legal defense raised by the tenant against the eviction itself, in addition to potential liability to LAHD. This is a significant compliance risk that should be confirmed with LAHD or a landlord-tenant attorney before proceeding.
Weighing a Relocation Payout Against a Sale?
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Related Resources
Weighing a Relocation Payout in Los Angeles?
Whether you are heading toward an owner move-in, an Ellis Act withdrawal, or reconsidering the sale, a clear picture of your compliance position and your property's value is the right first step.
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