A new UCLA study reveals that Black tenants in Los Angeles, particularly in neighborhoods with modest Black populations like Hollywood, Woodland Hills, and Koreatown, are disproportionately affected by evictions from Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These publicly traded companies own vast residential and commercial properties, impacting about 1.5 million housing units nationwide.
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Evictions During Economic Disruption
The study, conducted by Alexander Ferrer at the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy, highlights how landlords, including major corporate entities like Equity Residential, responded to economic disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing practices such as lowering security deposits and relaxing credit checks. These strategies were “race-neutral,” according to Ferrer, but Black renters disproportionately felt their impact due to deep-rooted racial inequalities in housing.
Tai’Leah and Tay’Laur Paige’s Experience
Tai’Leah and Tay’Laur Paige, two sisters evicted from a 300+ unit property in North Hollywood, represent the human toll of these corporate eviction practices. Their eviction began when they lost 50% of their income due to the Hollywood writers’ strike. Although they were approved for rent relief, the sisters encountered resistance from Equity Residential, which refused to accept the assistance.
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A Long and Painful Battle
After applying for rent relief, the sisters found their payment portal blocked, and their eviction process dragged on for 9 to 10 months. Despite court orders, Equity Residential still did not accept the rent relief funds, leaving the sisters with a $50,000 debt that now negatively impacts their credit. They eventually ended up living in hotels and their car before moving in with family in Orange County.
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The Systematic Impact on Black Renters
Ferrer’s research points out that many tenants who fall behind on rent during economic disruptions struggle to negotiate with corporate landlords, who often refuse to allow payment plans or partial payments. These landlords also frequently lock tenants out of their payment portals, exacerbating the problem. The long eviction processes often result in large, unmanageable rent debts.
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Calls for Debt Cancellation and Eviction Removal
Ferrer advocates for debt cancellation and the removal of eviction records for renters impacted by these practices, particularly when tenants were impacted by external disruptions like the pandemic or the writers’ strike.
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Corporate Landlord Denials
In response to KCRW’s inquiries, Equity Residential denied the Paige sisters’ claims that they had been granted rent relief. The company also questioned the study’s data and insisted their policies were race-neutral.
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