H O W T O U S E T H I S G U I D E 
 
 
 
Can you pay rent on April 1st? What about May? Where will you get the money to pay for 
food, medications, necessities? What about your neighbors, your family, your friends? How 
long will this crisis last? Choose food. Choose medications. Choose your future. Keep your 
rent. 
 
We do not know how long we will be out of work and confined to our homes. We do not 
trust the federal or state governments to provide the resources we need to survive. We 
recommend saving your rent money for basic necessities, food and medications. We need 
whatever money we have. We can’t eat the rent. 
 
Below is a step-by-step guide to protecting yourself as much as you can while not paying 
rent during the COVID crisis. Included below is a letter to send to your landlord, notifying 
them that you will not be paying your rent for the month, as well as instructions on how to 
join online meetings of your Local Chapter of the L.A. Tenants Union, so that so that your 
decision or inability to pay will be joined with that of tenants across LA. You are not alone. 
Together we can demand the rent forgiveness we so clearly need. Share this guide with 
your family, your friends, and your neighbors: bit.ly/FOODNOTRENT  
​
 
 
STEP ONE
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JOIN LATU FOR STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION 
The LA Tenants Union is an autonomous, member-funded union which fights for the 
human right to housing. From our five years of organizing tenants against evictions, 
harassment, and displacement, with rent strikes, direct action, and media campaigns, we 
know there is strength in numbers. One of us is easier to evict than all of us.  
 
So far, the response of our representatives has been far from enough to address the needs 
of tenants. By joining LATU, you demonstrate the collective power of tenants and help all of 
us build the power to make demands not requests. 
 
More, joining LATU helps you protect your legal rights. You have rights against retaliation 
by your landlord for exercising your constitutional right to organize. If you are a member of 
LATU and your landlord tries to respond to this letter with harassment, a sudden rent 
increase, or refusal to perform repairs, you may be able to argue in court that this is 
retaliation against exercising your constitutionally protected right to organize. 

 

STEP TWO 
 
 
MAIL THE LATU LETTER OF NONPAYMENT TO YOUR LANDLORD AND CITY COUNCIL REP 
EVERY MONTH YOU CANNOT PAY RENT 
 
Fill out and send this letter to your landlord. Make a copy so that you have documentation 
that the letter was sent. Send a copy to your representatives in LA’s City Council, so they are 
aware of your situation and the situation of tenants across LA. You can find out who your 
City Council rep is at: 
https://www.lacity.org/government/popular-information/elected-officials/city-council 
 
You should send the letter of nonpayment for each month that you cannot pay your rent.  
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STEP THREE 
 
 
HANG A GROCERY BAG OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND POST IT TO SOCIAL MEDIA WITH
#FOODNOTRENT #JoinLATU
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Wait… what!? You’re participating in this collective Food Not Rent action, whether by 
necessity or by choice! Hang a grocery bag on your door to show your neighbors what 
you’re up to. You can also use the bag to safely share food, medicine and other necessities 
with your neighbors. Take a picture of your door with the grocery bag and upload it to 
social media with the hashtags #FoodNotRent #JoinLATU #CantEatTheRent  
STEP FOUR 
 
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NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER AND ATTEND A MEETING 

Notify your local LA Tenants Union chapter that you have sent a letter of nonpayment to 
your landlord. Local chapters are there to bring tenants together, provide support and 
up-to-date information, and provide a space to gather and share in these uncertain times. 
You can find your local chapter at: ​https://latenantsunion.org/en/locals/ 
 
To keep our members safe, LATU local meetings are being held over ZOOM for the 
duration of the crisis. You can join a meeting by computer or phone. Just follow the link on 
the website above to see the schedule for local meetings and click the ZOOM link. 
STEP FIVE 
 
 
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS ABOUT YOUR DECISION. ASK THEM IF 
THEY WANT TO DO THE SAME THING, AND CONNECT THEM WITH THE LA TENANTS UNION
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FAQ 
 
 
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1. Why keep my rent?  
 
● You may need the money very soon. We don’t know what the economic fall out of 
COVID-19 will be, but the actions of our government so far tell us they will never do 
enough to ensure that we survive. When every penny counts in such uncertain 
times, budget for food, medications, and necessities, not your landlord’s pockets. 
● You just don’t have it. If you can’t afford to pay the rent in April, you are not alone. 
You can make your nonpayment visible and act in conversation and in concert with 
others, joining with others for support and solidarity. 
● If you are in a position to choose to pay rent or not, please stand with those who 
aren’t. Your decision to withhold the rent in solidarity with others who can’t afford to 
make that choice protects everyone, and amplifies the demands of the most 
vulnerable. 
 
Nobody knows how long it’s going to take for people to be able to get out of their homes 
and back to work, or go back into an economic stable situation. The more tenants organize 
to support each other, the better all of us will do. 
 
2. Can I be evicted if I send this letter and do not pay my rent? 
 
There are risks associated with not paying rent. This is why we urge tenants to join LATU 
and not go through this process alone. However, there ​are​ a number of protections to help 
tenants stay in their homes at this time: 
●

Mayor Eric Garcetti has issued an executive order that places a moratorium on 
evictions through May 31st, if tenants are unable to pay because of the impacts of 
the COVID-19 virus. LA’s City Council has extended payment of back rent for a year 
after the crisis. By submitting a letter of nonpayment, you are notifying your 
landlord that you are invoking these new rules. 

●

Eviction is a process. ​If you receive a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit, you should 
absolutely respond to this letter, but it is NOT an eviction. The landlord must go 
through a legal process to file an eviction and take you to court, before he can order 
you out of your home. This is a lengthy process which could take many months. In 
that time, you can work with your Local Chapter to secure legal advice and support. 

●

Courts are closed for at least 60 days. The long backlog of cases works in the favor 
of tenants, as flooded courts mean it will take even longer for evictions to process. 
We can use the scale of the problem to add force to our demands 

 

 

 

We find it unlikely that already struggling tenants will ever be able to pay back rent and 
know that eviction moratoriums are just tenant debt. We are asking city, state, and federal 
representatives to forgive all tenant debt during the crisis. We need a moratorium on rent, 
not just on evictions. We need rent forgiveness. The more of us that withhold our rent, the 
less likely they are to evict all of us, and the stronger our demand for rent forgiveness will 
be. There is tremendous pressure on elected officials to take action. What was 
unimaginable a few weeks ago is suddenly possible.  
 
 
3. 
What happens if I receive a 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit? 
 
IF you receive a 3 Day Notice to Pay your rent or Quit, this means that your landlord is 
demanding that you pay the rent or they will start the eviction process against you. Get in 
touch with your LATU Local Chapter about any notice you receive. We recommend sending 
a response letter to the landlord asking for the rent to be forgiven for the months you 
cannot pay. This letter reminds your landlord that government regulations including the 
closure of business and shelter in place have prevented you from earning an income. We 
also urge you to support our broader campaign for rent forgiveness by joining LATU, 
organizing other tenants, making phone calls, and participating in upcoming Union 
activities. Together, we can pressure government officials to remove all requirements to 
pay back rent accumulated during the COVID-19 crisis. To beat mass evictions, we need 
mass membership. 
 
4.
Can’t we just wait for the Governor or the Mayor or the President to help us? 
 
The impact that this crisis has on our lives could be irreversible. But while the virus spreads 
relief is not yet on the way. When federal support comes, we know it will prioritize banks, 
corporations, and landlords, as we saw in the crisis of 2008. When state support comes, we 
bet it will defer to cities to work it out themselves. When city support comes, we imagine it 
will be much like their “eviction moratorium” which is just a six month deferral of rent. In 
the meantime, we can’t wait. Our actions are a way to use our collective power and make 
the government face the realities of tenants’ needs. 
 
4. What should I do if my landlord retaliates against me?  
 
You have rights against retaliation and landlord harassment. Write down every incident and 
threat that you receive, with the date and time of the occurrence and whether there were 
any witnesses. Take pictures and video. You have a right to record any incident that occurs 
inside your apartment or home. Try to keep your interactions with your landlord in writing 
so there is a record you can refer back to. And keep in touch with LATU. Let other members 
in your local chapter know what you’re experiencing so you can strategize about the best 
way to respond.  
 

5. How can I share this information with my friends, family, and neighbors while keeping social 
distance? 
 
Reach out to your contacts by text, WhatsApp, or social media. Try putting up flyers in your 
building’s lobby, entrances, with your or LATU’s contact information. You can keep a safe 
distance and still have conversations with neighbours you see, or by knocking on their 
doors. Make sure to collect their contact information, reach out and share this guide, and 
encourage them to join LATU. 

 
 
 
 
FURTHER RESOURCES 
 
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LATU Tenants Rights Handbook: 
https://latenantsunion.org/en/2017/11/08/la-tenants-union-handbook/ 
 
LATU Tips for Tenants on Police and ICE: 
https://latenantsunion.org/en/2019/06/21/tips-for-tenants-on-police-and-ice/ 
 
LATU Naming the Moment, Reflections on LATU Organizing (2018): 
https://latenantsunion.org/en/2019/09/09/naming-the-moment-2018/ 
 
LATU Crisis Communications Channels: 
Twitter: @LATenantsUnion  
​
Instagram: @LATenants 
​
Facebook: LATenantsUnion 
​
 

Date: _________________ 
 
 
Dear __________________;  
 
 
I am a member of the L.A. Tenants Union (LATU). Alongside many tenants in Los 
Angeles, I am currently facing the simultaneous economic and health crises posed by 
COVID-19.  
 
This letter is to inform you that these crises are preventing me from paying this month’s 
rent.  
 
I will submit a copy of this letter to my City Council member, to make sure that my 
representatives are aware of my situation and the situation of tenants across L.A.. As 
they know, protecting the health of ourselves and others requires us to stay in our 
homes.  
 
If you have any questions feel free to contact _________________________ at 
__________________ , LATU representative 
 
 
Thank you for your understanding. 
 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
 
Address: ________________________ 
________________________ 
   

 
 
Fecha:_________________ 
 
 
Estimado/a________________________: 
 
Soy miembro del Sindicato de inquilinos de Los Ángeles. En el presente, al igual que 
muchos inquilinos en Los Ángeles, estoy enfrentando las crisis económicas y de salud 
causadas por COVID-19. 
 
Esta carta es para informarle que estas crisis no permiten que yo pueda pagar la renta 
este mes. 
 
Estoy enviando una copia de esta carta a mi representante del Consejo de la Ciudad, 
para asegurarme de que mis representantes entiendan mi situación y la situación de los 
inquilinos en Los Ángeles. Nuestros representantes saben que para proteger nuestra 
salud y la de los demás se requiere que nos quedemos en nuestras casas. 
 
Si usted tiene preguntas, puede llamar a __________________________________ 
representante de LATU 
 
Gracias por su comprensión. 
 
Atentamente, 
 
 
 
Direccion: ________________________ 
​ 1​________________________ 
 
 
 
 
Cc:  Capítulo Local del Sindicato de Inquilinos de Los Angeles 
Miembro de Consejo
 



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