California has a $5.2bn plan to pay off unpaid rent accrued during the pandemic

The rent forgiveness program would pay landlords all of what they are owed while simultaneously giving tenants a clean slate

California is pursuing an ambitious plan to pay off the entirety of unpaid rent from low-income tenants who fell behind during the pandemic, in what could constitute the largest ever rent relief program in the US.

The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, is negotiating with legislators and said the $5.2bn plan would pay landlords all of what they were owed while giving renters a clean slate.