The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion on May 13 to allow rent deferral on storage units during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the proposal by Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, renters of storage units would have three months following the end of the COVID-19 emergency to repay missed rent. During that time, storage unit companies would be prohibited from destroying or selling personal property kept in storage. The motion was referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which will draft a final ordinance to be considered later by the City Council.

“Storage units might not be top of mind right now, unless you have one,” Ryu said. “These units can hold the most important items in a person’s life, and right now, many are unable to keep up with the payments. For our unhoused neighbors, these units may hold the only things they have. No one should have to worry that their personal belongings will be lost during this pandemic, and we need to do what we can to stop storage unit evictions.”

Ryu first introduced the motion on April 23 after hearing from residents unable to make payments on storage units or access them during the pandemic. The legislation would protect people from losing possessions if they have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, Ryu sad.

The draft ordinance is expected to return to the council in the next few weeks with an urgency clause, allowing it to take effect immediately after it is approved.