In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Altadena renters are all too familiar with the challenges we are up against.
The intention of this guide is to lay out the landscape of current laws, information and resources, and suggestion for how to navigate challenges as an Altadena renter, both post-fire and always. We hope that this guide is helpful; we are very open to feedback for how we can make it better. We also want to hear your stories to keep learning more about what is and isn’t working for Altadena renters.
Please note that this is a living document that will continue to be changed/edited/added to as we continue to get more information about renters’ rights and best practices for dealing with challenges.
This document was not written by lawyers and is not a substitute for legal advice. Information about how and where to find legal support is included in this guide. Lastly, ATU would like to thank the Pasadena Tenants Union whose outstanding guide for fire-impacted tenants was the inspiration for this guide.
Pro Bono Legal Assistance
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLS LA) provides free, legal help for individuals and families harmed by natural disasters including fires, earthquakes and floods. NLSLA has been helping people recover from natural disasters since the Northridge Earthquake. This includes help with disaster related issues like filing of claims with FEMA, tenants rights issues, benefits, and more.
Legal Aid Clinics & Tenants Rights Workshops
NLSLA also runs regular legal aid clinics (registration required) where you can speak directly with an attorney, as well as tenants’ rights workshops. You can register for either or both at their website:
Small Claims Court 101
Learn from LAFLA housing attorney Jincy Varughese about what options are available to you through small claims court if you are a renter whose housing has been affected by the recent wildfires.
Understand how the small claims process can help address issues such as security deposit returns, habitability concerns (e.g. smoke or ash damage), or other landlord-tenant disputes. LAFLA can help with legal issues arising from disasters like the 2025 LA wildfires, including FEMA applications and appeals, tenant and homeowner issues, and consumer relief. Learn more >
FEMA Cleanup Guide for Surviving Buildings
From the 2023 Marshall Fire but very helpful on what you can do yourself vs what needs professional remediation. It’s your landlord’s responsibility to clean and remediate the unit so that it’s habitable, but any of your personal belongings will need to be cleaned/remediated by you.
