Need an eviction lawyer in the City of LA for non-paying tenant: please help

[Joyce Kim]

My tenant has not been paying rent for four months now and refuses to vacate.

I've posted and mailed 3-day notices, and uploaded them to the LAHD website four times already. I finally received a demand letter from a "nonprofit attorney" representing the tenant, claiming that the tenant was living in uninhabitable conditions—typical for a non-paying tenant, I guess—and now she wants to "renegotiate" the rent and keep living in the same space.

She has been filing complaints with various government departments, but all the cases were minor and have been closed. I've personally communicated with the inspectors, and they are aware of how the tenant is trying to manipulate the situation. Fortunately, all three inspectors (from different departments) were very supportive and one inspector even stated they will not return, even if another complaint is filed.

I want to offer a cash-for-keys option, but since the tenant's attorney is from a nonprofit, I feel she will fight for her tenant to stay. I need to respond to the attorney's demand letter and almost want to go to court, even if it takes six months to evict her. I think I have a good case, but it's really hard to find an attorney to take it nowadays—all the good ones are fully booked and hard to reach.

Any suggestions or recommendations on how to approach this issue would be greatly appreciated, as I am a new landlord. Additionally, if you have any referrals to good eviction lawyers who can take my case, I would be very grateful.

Thank you so much for your help.