Practice areas
Tenant Rights Legal Services
Wrongful Evictions
Facing a wrongful eviction can be devastating, but in California, tenants have rights. Landlords must provide a valid reason for eviction and serve a formal written notice, following the state's guidelines.
Habitability and Bad Faith Repairs
Residential tenants in California have the right to a habitable dwelling regardless of whether such a clause is explicitly included in their lease.
Landlord Harassment and Constructive Evictions
Landlords may harass tenants in bad faith to recover possession of a rental unit. If they do, a tenant may bring a claim for constructive eviction.
Discrimination
Landlords sometimes employ discriminatory housing policies and practices and often hide their discriminatory motives. Unfortunately, too often, tenants who face discrimination are scared to lose their housing and do not push back. In addition to federal and state laws outlawing discriminatory landlord practices, many local jurisdictions award enhanced penalties against landlords who discriminate.
Nuisance Neighbors and Conditions/Noise Disturbances
Every residential tenant in California has a right to quiet enjoyment of the premises. It is the landlord's responsibility to ensure this right is not infringed upon (within reason). Landlords often ignore complaints about noise and nuisances from neighboring tenants.
Representation at the Rent Board
We represent tenants throughout California in petitions/hearings at their local rent boards, including decrease housing service petition hearings (petition for loss of services including heat, amenities, etc.), hearings for jurisdiction, unlawful rent increase petition hearings, Costa-Hawkins rent increase challenge hearings, and many more.
Live/Work Units
Live/work unit tenants are not without rights, as most landlords would like to have them think. In most cases, even if there is a lease to the contrary, they have residential rental protections, including eviction protections and the right to habitable premises.
Premise Liability/Personal Injury
Landlords are obliged to exercise ordinary care in operating and managing their premises. If the landlord was negligent in doing so, they may be liable for bodily injury damages.
Commercial Tenancies
Commercial tenants are facing unprecedented challenges in light of the pandemic. Some state and local laws have been passed to protect businesses struggling to pay rent and stay afloat.