California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation When a rental property goes into foreclosure and is ultimately sold at a trustee’s sale, the new owner’s relationship to existing tenants is governed by federal law — the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) — and California state law. Tenants in foreclosed properties have more rights than…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation A well-written repair demand letter is the foundation of every habitability remedy — it establishes that you gave the landlord notice and a reasonable opportunity to repair, which is required before you can use repair-and-deduct, withhold rent, or pursue any other self-help remedy. The letter also creates written…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California has a robust network of free and low-cost legal resources for tenants — resources that most renters don’t know exist until they’re already in crisis. Knowing where to find help before you need it ensures you can access it quickly when circumstances require it. Legal Aid Organizations…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California law requires working smoke detectors in every dwelling unit and, since 2013, carbon monoxide detectors in most residential units. A landlord’s failure to install or maintain required detectors is both a habitability violation and, in the event of injury or death, a basis for substantial liability. Knowing…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California law imposes specific requirements on landlords regarding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors — requirements that affect both your safety and your legal rights as a tenant. A landlord who fails to install and maintain required detectors has violated state law, creating both a code enforcement complaint opportunity…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California’s strong tenant protections apply specifically to residential tenants — and landlords sometimes attempt to classify residential arrangements as commercial tenancies to avoid consumer protection requirements. Understanding the distinction, and how California law characterizes a tenancy, protects you from attempts to strip away your residential tenant rights. The…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation In cities with local rent control — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Berkeley, Santa Monica, and others — the local Rent Board or Rent Stabilization Office provides an administrative forum for resolving rent disputes, petitioning for rent reductions based on habitability defects, and appealing rent increases. Rent board…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California has enacted specific housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and elder abuse. These protections allow survivors to terminate leases early, change locks, and access emergency housing remedies without the usual notice requirements or financial penalties. If you or someone in your…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation California’s small claims court is specifically designed for security deposit disputes — it’s fast, inexpensive, and specifically does not require an attorney. A tenant who has been wrongfully deprived of their security deposit can file in small claims court for up to $12,500 and potentially recover double the…

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California Tenant Defense System | Justice Foundation When the property you rent is sold to a new owner, your lease and tenant rights don’t disappear. California law imposes obligations on both the selling landlord and the new buyer that protect your tenancy through a sale and beyond. Understanding these protections prevents displacement that is often…

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