Culver City Businesses Get Relief With Commercial Rent Moratorium

CULVER CITY, CA — Culver City has extended its commercial tenant eviction moratorium until the termination of the local emergency, giving businesses and business owners some extra protections during the pandemic.

Culver City issued the Thirty-Fourth Supplement to Public Order and Eighth Amended Implementation Measures on Feb. 25 regarding the Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium, which includes several changes and updates:

• Extension of moratorium until the termination of the local emergency.
• Effective April 1, 2021, tenants must pay 25% of current rent due in order to receive the protection of the moratorium. If the landlord and tenant already have another payment arrangement in place for current rent, that agreement will supersede this condition.
• Effective March 1, 2021, the definition of Commercial Tenant will be modified as follows (changes in bold):

“Commercial Tenant” means any individual, agency, association, branch, corporation, estate, group, partnership, or other entity or organization entitled by Lease or by sufferance, to the use or occupancy of a Commercial Property, provided that such person holds a valid business license issued by the City of Culver City, unless exempt from business license requirements under the Culver City Municipal Code. Effective June 1, 2020, “Commercial Tenant” shall not include a multi-national company, publicly traded company, or a company that employed 200 or more employees on March 20, 2020. Effective March 1, 2021, “Commercial Tenant” shall not include a multi-national company, publicly traded company, or a company that, together with that company’s parent, subsidiary, affiliated, and related companies, employed 200 or more employees on March 20, 2020.”

• Referral of parties to no-cost mediation services.
• Clarification that tenants should pay all or partial rent if they are financially able to do so.
• Clarification that the CTEM protects a tenant from eviction for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19 related circumstances, but does not preclude a landlord from seeking payment, by other lawful means, of current or past due rent.
• Further enhancements and clarification of documentation requirements.

Anyone who needs more information or has questions related to the Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium can reach Elizabeth Garcia via email or call (310) 253-5765.