At The Law Firm For Tenant Rights, we believe every tenant deserves to live with dignity, safety, and stability. Led by award-winning attorney Rahman Popal, our team fights for those facing wrongful evictions, unsafe living conditions, landlord harassment, and other housing injustices. With years of experience and deep roots in the Bay Area tenant community, we’re here to answer your most pressing legal questions and help you understand your rights as a renter in California.
We are a California law firm exclusively dedicated to protecting renters. We help tenants resolve wrongful evictions, uninhabitable living conditions, landlord harassment, illegal lockouts, housing discrimination, illegal rent increases, and a wide range of other housing disputes — so you can stay in your home or secure justice if you’ve already been displaced.
Our firm was founded by Rahman Popal, a tenants’ rights attorney who has dedicated his entire legal career to representing underserved and marginalized renters across California. Before starting this firm, Rahman spent five years as an associate attorney at a leading tenant rights firm in San Francisco. He has been recognized as a Northern California Rising Star Attorney by Super Lawyers four years in a row — an honor given to only 2.5% of Northern California attorneys.
It’s money your landlord pays to help you move. If they want you out for a “no-fault” reason—like selling the place or remodeling—some laws say they must help you with the cost of moving.
How much? It depends on your city and how long you’ve lived there. Check with your local rent board or housing office.
Only in some cases. If your place is unsafe or your landlord isn’t fixing serious problems (like no heat or leaks), you might be able to legally move out early.
This is called “constructive eviction.” Still, you should talk to a lawyer first to make sure you’re protected.
Yes, but only in common areas. They can use cameras in public spots—like outside doors, hallways, and laundry rooms.
They cannot point cameras into your bedroom, bathroom, or inside your unit. That’s a big privacy violation and might even be illegal.
Sometimes, yes. If they want you out and it’s not your fault (like they’re selling the building or moving in), they may owe you relocation money.
This is true in many California cities and under state law. Ask your local housing office what you’re owed.
Usually, no. In many places (like California), landlords need a good reason to evict you—especially if you’ve lived there a while.
Look for laws like “just cause” or “rent control” in your city. If they don’t follow the rules, the eviction might not be valid.
No. That’s the landlord’s job. If something breaks and it’s not your fault, they must fix it—and pay for it, too.
Even if the lease says you must pay, that part is illegal. If your landlord tries to charge you anyway, you can say no and even get help from a lawyer or local tenants’ group.
Don’t panic—take action. You still have rights. The landlord must have a legal reason to evict you. They must also give you proper written notice, usually 30, 60, or 90 days.
Call a local tenant hotline or a lawyer right away. They can help you figure out if the notice is legal and what to do next.
No. Your landlord needs to give you at least 24 hours notice. They also need a real reason to come in. That means fixing something, showing the apartment to a buyer or new tenant, or if the court says they can enter.
They can’t come in just to “check things out.” If your landlord shows up without notice, you can remind them of your right to privacy—and maybe even report them if it keeps happening.
No. Your landlord needs to give you at least 24 hours notice. They also need a real reason to come in. That means fixing something, showing the apartment to a buyer or new tenant, or if the court says they can enter.
They can’t come in just to “check things out.” If your landlord shows up without notice, you can remind them of your right to privacy—and maybe even report them if it keeps happening.
Real reasons include:
“Just an inspection” is not good enough.
No. That’s the landlord’s job. If something breaks and it’s not your fault, they must fix it—and pay for it, too.
Even if the lease says you must pay, that part is illegal. If your landlord tries to charge you anyway, you can say no and even get help from a lawyer or local tenants’ group.
Then you might have to cover the cost. If you or a guest caused the damage, the landlord can ask you to fix it or pay for it.
If it’s normal wear and tear (like an old carpet or fading paint), that’s the landlord’s problem.
Don’t panic—take action. You still have rights. The landlord must have a legal reason to evict you. They must also give you proper written notice, usually 30, 60, or 90 days.
Call a local tenant hotline or a lawyer right away. They can help you figure out if the notice is legal and what to do next.
Usually, no. In many places (like California), landlords need a good reason to evict you—especially if you’ve lived there a while.
Look for laws like “just cause” or “rent control” in your city. If they don’t follow the rules, the eviction might not be valid.
Sometimes, yes. If your landlord ends your tenancy for a no-fault reason, like moving in or taking the unit off the rental market, they may owe you relocation money. Under California law, covered tenants who have lived in their unit at least 12 months get at least one month’s rent, and many cities require more.
Selling the building is not, by itself, a reason to make you leave. Read the full answer about relocation money.
Yes. Support animals are not regular pets. The law treats them differently if they help with a disability. Your landlord must allow it unless there’s a really good reason not to.
Just make sure you ask in writing and show a doctor’s note.
Only in some cases. If your place is unsafe or your landlord isn’t fixing serious problems (like no heat or leaks), you might be able to legally move out early.
This is called “constructive eviction.” Still, you should talk to a lawyer first to make sure you’re protected.
Then you might owe some rent. But the landlord can’t just charge you for the full lease. They must try to rent the place again quickly.
Ask to work out a deal—some landlords will be flexible.
Yes, but only in common areas. They can use cameras in shared spots, like outside doors, hallways, and laundry rooms.
They cannot put cameras inside your unit or point them into your home, and secretly recording your conversations is generally illegal in California. Read the full answer about landlord cameras.
Usually, no. A new owner still has to follow the law—and your lease. Selling the building is not a reason to kick you out (especially if you’re protected by local or state tenant laws).
Your lease stays valid unless you agree to leave.
Only after your lease ends. They can’t raise the rent or change rules in the middle of your lease. They have to follow what was already agreed upon.
Usually not. In California, month-to-month tenants generally only need to give 30 days’ written notice, and a lease generally can’t require more. The 60-day rule applies to landlords ending a tenancy for someone who has lived there a year or more.
On a fixed-term lease, leaving early has different rules. Read the full answer about move-out notice.
Usually not. In California, if you stay and your landlord accepts rent, your lease generally turns into a month-to-month tenancy. To end it, your landlord must give written notice, usually 30 or 60 days.
If you’re protected by state or local just cause rules, your landlord also needs a legal reason, and a lease simply ending isn’t one. Read the full answer about your rights when a lease ends.
It’s money your landlord must pay to help you move when you’re forced out for a “no-fault” reason, like an owner move-in, a substantial remodel, or taking the unit off the rental market.
How much? Under state law, at least one month’s rent for covered tenants, paid within 15 days of the notice. Many cities require more, depending on how long you’ve lived there. Read the full answer about relocation money.
