Legal guidance contributed by Yong Lee ("David"), Real & Lee, Ltd., a Los Angeles landlord-tenant attorney. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
If you are a tenant in the City of Los Angeles and you have received an eviction notice or an Unlawful Detainer (UD) lawsuit, you may be entitled to free legal representation — at no cost to you — under the City's Right to Counsel (RTC) program. This is one of the most powerful tenant protections in California, and many landlords don't follow the rules correctly.
What Is the Right to Counsel Program?
The Los Angeles Right to Counsel ordinance (Chapter XVI of the LA Municipal Code) guarantees qualifying tenants the right to access free legal help in eviction proceedings and in administrative matters that could result in the loss of their tenancy or rental housing subsidy (such as Section 8).
The program is run by Stay Housed LA (SHLA), a coalition of legal aid organizations funded to provide this representation. The service is completely free for eligible tenants. This law covers all rental units in the City of Los Angeles.
How to Get Help — Contact Stay Housed LA
If you receive an eviction notice or court papers, contact Stay Housed LA immediately:
- Phone: (888) 694-0040
- Online: stayhousedla.org/get-legal-help
Apply as soon as possible — time is critical in eviction cases.
What You Must Do After Receiving an Eviction Lawsuit
If your landlord files an Unlawful Detainer (eviction) lawsuit against you in court, you have a very short window to respond:
- You must file a written Answer with the court within 10 business days of being served
- If you do not file an Answer, the court may issue a default judgment against you — meaning you could lose without a hearing
- Apply for RTC legal assistance immediately so an attorney can help you file your Answer correctly
What Notices Your Landlord Must Give You
Under the RTC ordinance, your landlord is required to provide the RTCP Notice repeatedly — not just once — and in multiple languages. Specifically, they must:
- Provide you with a Notice of Right to Counsel when you first move in
- Attach an updated Right to Counsel notice to every eviction notice they serve you
- Attach a Right to Counsel notice to any notice terminating your rental housing subsidy
- Post a Right to Counsel notice in a conspicuous common area of your building
If your landlord failed to provide these notices — or used an outdated form — this may be an affirmative defense that could stop the eviction case entirely.
The Penalty for Landlord Non-Compliance Is Serious
Under this law, if a landlord violates the RTC requirements in any way:
- The court may dismiss the eviction case
- The landlord may be required to pay your attorney fees and costs — and there is no dollar limit
- California courts have ordered landlords to pay tens of thousands of dollars, a hundred thousand dollars, or more in legal fees to tenants when the landlord failed to comply
California courts hold landlords to a strict standard on this ordinance. (Eshagian v. Cepeda, B340941, filed 6/26/25.) Your legal aid attorney knows how to raise these defenses.
LAHD Updated the RTC Forms in June 2026
The Los Angeles Housing Department updated its Right to Counsel notice forms on June 11, 2026. Landlords are required to use these updated forms. If your landlord served you an eviction notice with any older version of the form, raise this with your legal aid attorney immediately — it may affect your case.
You can view the current forms at housing.lacity.gov/RTC.
Does This Apply to Your Apartment?
The Right to Counsel program applies to tenants renting within the City of Los Angeles. If you live in an unincorporated part of LA County, or in a separate city like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Burbank, different rules may apply. When in doubt, call Stay Housed LA — they can tell you whether you qualify.
This article was prepared with guidance from Yong Lee ("David"), Real & Lee, Ltd., a Los Angeles-based landlord-tenant attorney. For legal advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.
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