Under AB 1482, landlords covered by the law must have just cause to evict tenants who have been in occupancy for at least 12 months. No-fault just cause — which includes owner move-in, substantial remodel, and withdrawal from the rental market — requires specific procedural compliance that many landlords get wrong.
What Landlords Must Do
For a no-fault just cause eviction to be valid, the landlord must: serve a written notice with the specific legal basis stated, provide relocation assistance equal to one month’s rent, and comply with jurisdiction-specific requirements for the type of eviction. Failure to pay relocation assistance before the tenant vacates is a significant procedural defect that can defeat the eviction.
Relocation assistance must be paid before or when the notice is served in many jurisdictions. Landlords who serve owner move-in notices without simultaneously tendering the required relocation payment have failed to comply with the law. Tenants who receive a no-fault notice without accompanying relocation assistance should not vacate and should consult the California Tenant Defense System before responding.
The California Tenant Defense System gives renters the exact tools, templates, and step-by-step guidance to fight illegal evictions, recover wrongfully withheld security deposits, and enforce habitability rights — without paying an attorney to get started. Request your free evaluation here.
California Tenant Defense System 
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