Benhaghnazar

BACKGROUND

1. Landlords’ unlawful detainer action In 2016, landlords leased a residence on Kirkside Road in Los Angeles to tenants for $10,500 per month, increased to $11,000 for 2020 through January 2021. On January 11, 2021, landlords served tenants with a 15-day notice to pay rent or quit the premises (notice to quit). The notice indicated tenants owed $55,000 in unpaid rent for September 2020 through January 2021. On February 16, 2021, landlords filed an unlawful detainer complaint against tenants. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV05714.) On April 26, 2021, tenants filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings. They argued they were shielded from eviction by LAMC article 14.6, section 49.99 et seq., which provided certain protections to renters during the COVID-

3 emergency. We describe tenants’ motion in more detail in our Discussion, post. The unlawful detainer court granted the motion for judgment on the pleadings, finding landlords’ notice to quit was defective under LAMC article 14.6. Specifically, landlords’ notice did not include a “Protections Notice” informing tenants of their rights under LAMC article 14.6, as required under LAMC section 49.99.2,…