PASADENA RENTAL ASSISTANCE

On March 24, the Pasadena City Council passed protections for tenants unable to pay rent due to financial hardship directly related to the Eaton Fire. If you are eligible, you may not be evicted for not paying rent that was due between January 15 and July 31, 2025. You will have an additional repayment time period of 12 months after that period to repay any accrued rental debt.

You are eligible if you:

• Lived in a Pasadena rental unit before January 7

• Had a 2024 household income at or below 150% of the Area Median Income.

• Ranges from $103,125 for 1 person household to $194,400 for 8 person household (see form below for a full table)

• Lost at least 10% of average monthly income directly because of the Eaton Fire

• Examples: location destroyed or unusable, layoff, reduced hours, reduced pay, loss of clients who were themselves affected by the fire

• Have tried to replace the lost income

• Examples: applying for an Eaton Fire relief program, applying for unemployment, or looking for a new/additional job

To take advantage of this protection, you must deliver a self-certification form directly to your landlord. 

• This must be submitted within 7 days of the rent due date. 

You can use THIS FORM.

PASADENA TENANT PROTECTIONS

According to Article XVIII section 1806 of the Pasadena Municipal Code:

Your landlord is only permitted to evict you for one of 11 specific reasons, and they must list that reason on the eviction notice. The City of Pasadena lists them HERE.

The following are NOT allowed reasons for eviction:

• The property is sold or foreclosed

• Your current lease ends

• You refuse to sign a new lease or amendment with different terms

• You asked for repairs

• Your landlord wants you to move out

Beware that despite what owners, lenders, real estate agents, or new owners may say, tenants do not have to leave the property just because any of the above happens. There are very specific requirements for the termination (eviction) notice itself and for the notice that your landlord may have given you in advance.

Finally, if you receive an eviction notice for any just cause reason that is not your fault (owner move-in, removing unit from rental market, government order, temporary eviction for necessary and substantial repairs), your landlord must provide Relocation Assistance Payments. These start around $8000 and increase based on unit size, length of tenancy, and special circumstances. You can use reference this fact sheet for more information and use this form to figure out the correct total amount and inform your landlord.