1. Limits on Rent Increases — Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482)

Since 2019, the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) has placed clear limits on how much your rent can be increased. Your landlord may not increase the rent by more than 10% total, or by more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living (CPI) — whichever is lower — during any 12-month period.

For example: if the consumer price index increased by 3% in your area, your landlord cannot increase your rent by more than 8% (5% + 3%). If the CPI was 6%, the limit is still 10%, not 11%.

If several tenants move out of a unit and new tenants move in, the landlord may freely set the initial rent. But once you are living there, the limits apply.

Who Is Covered by AB 1482?

This law covers most residential rental properties in California. However, the following are outside its protection:

• Single-family homes that are not owned by a corporation or real estate investment trust (those owned by corporations are covered)
• Units with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years (this date moves forward over time, so a unit may eventually become covered)
• Duplexes where the owner lives in one of the two units, as long as the owner continues living there
• Units already covered by a more protective local rent control ordinance
• Affordable housing restricted by deed or government agreement
• University student housing
• Mobile homes or manufactured homes, unless they are owned by the park owner and rented out

Tenants with Section 8 Housing Vouchers: They are protected by this law. The voucher applies to the person, not the property, so market-rate rental units rented with Section 8 vouchers are covered by AB 1482.

Local laws: Many cities and counties in California have their own rent control ordinances that may be more protective than state law. Contact us to find out whether additional protections may apply in your area.

2. Protections Against Eviction — Just Cause

One of the most important rights you have as a tenant in California is the right not to be evicted without a valid reason recognized by law. After you have lived in your home for 12 months, the Tenant Protection Act requires the landlord to have “just cause” to evict you.

The law recognizes two types of permitted eviction:

Lying about the reason for an eviction is illegal. If you have doubts about whether the notice you received is legitimate or whether your landlord is complying with all legal requirements, contact us. You may also have a right to compensation if the landlord lied or failed to comply with legal requirements when evicting you.

3. The Right to Safe and Habitable Housing

Every tenant in California has the right to live in a home that is safe, clean, and in good repair. This legal obligation is known as the duty of habitability, and it applies even if you knew the property had problems when you signed the lease.

The landlord is legally required to maintain:

What Should You Do if Your Home Has Problems?

1. Notify the landlord in writing. Send an email, text message, or certified letter describing the problem. Always keep a copy.
2. Document everything. Take photos and videos of the problems. Write down the dates you reported them and the landlord’s response.
3. Wait a reasonable amount of time. For urgent problems, such as no water, no heat in winter, or a serious infestation, the landlord must act quickly. For less urgent problems, the landlord has a reasonable time to respond.
4. If the landlord does not act: Report the problem to your city or county code enforcement office or health department. These agencies may inspect the property and order the landlord to make repairs.
5. Consult Inquilinos Juntos. We can help you prepare the repair request, the complaint to the authorities, and any other necessary documents.

4. The Security Deposit — Your Rights

At the beginning of your tenancy, your landlord may ask you for a security deposit. This deposit may be called by different names: “pet deposit,” “move-in fee,” “cleaning fee,” “damage deposit,” or any other name. Regardless of what it is called, the law sets clear limits.

What Can the Landlord Use the Deposit For?

The landlord may only withhold part or all of the deposit for:

• Rent you did not pay during the tenancy
• Repairing damage you caused beyond ordinary wear and tear from normal use of the home (for example, a hole in the wall is not normal wear and tear; normal floor wear from walking may be)
• Cleaning the unit if you left it less clean than it was when you moved in
• Replacing or restoring furniture or other landlord-owned items you were allowed to use under the lease, if you damaged them

Deadline to Return the Deposit

Within 21 days after you move out, the landlord must:

• Return the full deposit, or
• Send you the remaining balance along with a written itemized statement that explains each deduction, the cost of each repair or cleaning item, and the related receipts or invoices.

If the landlord does not return your deposit on time or makes unjustified deductions, you may have the right to claim not only the deposit, but also additional damages. Contact us for guidance about next steps.

5. Illegal Evictions — Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs

It is completely illegal for a landlord to try to force you out of your home without following the legal process. The following actions are illegal:

The only legal way to evict a tenant in California is to file an eviction lawsuit, called an unlawful detainer, in court and wait for the judge’s decision. Only with a court order may a sheriff enforce an eviction.

6. Protection Against Landlord Retaliation

California law protects you when you exercise your legitimate rights as a tenant. If you take any of the following protected actions, your landlord cannot retaliate against you:

• Requesting repairs or reporting unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions
• Pointing out that a rent increase does not comply with the law
• Contacting code enforcement, the health department, or other government agencies
• Organizing with other tenants in the building or participating in a tenant organization
• Exercising any other right California law gives you as a tenant

Retaliation can take many forms:

• Trying to evict you after you exercised one of the rights listed above
• Increasing the rent as punishment shortly after you reported problems
• Taking away services or privileges you previously had, such as parking, storage space, or access to common areas
• Increasing harassment or unscheduled inspections
• Deliberately reducing maintenance services

7. Protection Against Housing Discrimination

California law strictly prohibits landlords from discriminating in renting, lease terms, or the eviction process based on protected personal characteristics. This protection applies both when seeking housing and throughout the tenancy.

Characteristics Protected by California Law:

Ways Discrimination May Appear:

• Refusing to rent to you because you belong to a protected group
• Offering you less favorable rental terms than other tenants
• Applying different rules or requirements to you than to other tenants
• Selecting you for eviction in a discriminatory way
• Harassing you or creating a hostile housing environment
• Refusing to make repairs in your unit while making repairs in others

8. Reasonable Accommodations for People with Disabilities

Landlords are legally required to make reasonable accommodations so tenants with disabilities can fully enjoy their housing on equal terms.

What Are Reasonable Accommodations?

• Adjustments to rules or policies: For example, a landlord with a “no pets” policy must make an exception for a tenant who needs a service animal or emotional support animal, without charging any additional fee for it.
• Physical modifications to the unit: The landlord must allow reasonable physical modifications, such as installing grab bars in a bathroom or access ramps, so a tenant with a disability can fully use the home. In most cases, the tenant is responsible for the cost of these modifications.
• Administrative adjustments: For example, accepting rent payment in a different format or making changes to communication procedures.

9. Protection Against Price Gouging During Emergencies

During declared states of emergency, such as natural disasters, fires, floods, pandemics, or other crises, price gouging laws may apply to rental properties. This can significantly limit allowed rent increases during and after the emergency.

Many cities and counties also have their own emergency ordinances that provide additional protections. If you believe your landlord is taking advantage of an emergency to raise your rent unfairly, contact us.

10. General Landlord Responsibilities

In addition to the specific protections already described, California landlords have several general responsibilities they must follow throughout the tenancy:

Can my rent be raised at any time and by any amount?

No. In most cases covered by AB 1482, the increase cannot exceed 5% plus CPI, with a maximum of 10%, in a 12-month period. In addition, the notice must be in writing and given at least 30 days in advance, or 90 days if the increase is more than 10%. Many cities also have additional limits. If your building is more than 15 years old and is not covered by another exception, you likely have these protections. Call us to verify.

Can I be evicted without being given any reason?

After you have lived in a unit covered by AB 1482 for more than 12 months, the landlord needs a just cause recognized by law to evict you. The landlord cannot simply tell you to leave “because they want to.” If you received an eviction notice without a valid reason, it may be challengeable. Contact us to evaluate it.

My apartment has cockroaches, mold, and the heat does not work. What can I do?

You have the right to require your landlord to make necessary repairs. First, notify the landlord in writing, by email or certified mail. Take photos and videos of all problems. If the landlord does not respond within a reasonable time, you may report the problem to your city’s code enforcement office or health department. At Inquilinos Juntos, we can help you prepare the repair request letter and document your case.

The locks were changed or my water was shut off. What should I do?

This is an illegal eviction. Call us immediately at 661-823-0102. You have the right to return to your home and to claim damages from the landlord. You may also call the police, because this may be a crime. Do not permanently leave the property for this reason — you may lose important rights.

How long does the landlord have to return my deposit?

The landlord has 21 days from the date you move out to return your deposit or send you the remaining balance with an itemized statement of deductions and the related receipts. If the landlord does not meet this deadline or the deductions are not justified, you may have the right to claim double or triple the deposit as damages. Keep evidence of the condition of the home when you left.

Does my immigration status affect my rights as a tenant?

No. Your rights as a tenant under California law are independent of your immigration status. Your landlord cannot ask about your immigration status and is strictly prohibited from threatening to report your status to pressure you to leave your home. That is illegal and may lead to serious legal consequences for the landlord.

I need an emotional support animal. Can the landlord charge me for it?

No. If you have a disability and need a service animal or emotional support animal, the landlord must make an exception to a “no pets” policy as a reasonable accommodation, without charging any additional fee. You will need documentation from a health care professional confirming your need. Consult us if you are having problems with this situation.

My rent was increased after I asked for repairs. Is that legal?

It may be illegal retaliation. If the landlord took a negative action, such as raising the rent, trying to evict you, or taking away privileges, within 180 days after you exercised a protected right, such as requesting repairs, the law presumes it is retaliation. Keep evidence of your communications and dates. Contact us to evaluate your situation.

My lease expired. Can the landlord ask me to leave?

Not necessarily. When a fixed-term lease expires and you continue paying rent, it usually becomes a month-to-month tenancy. If you have lived there for more than 12 months and the property is covered by AB 1482, the landlord still needs just cause to evict you. The simple expiration of the lease is generally not enough for a lawful eviction under those circumstances.

Can Inquilinos Juntos represent me in court?

No. We are tenant rights advocates, not attorneys. We do not represent anyone in court or in any legal proceeding. However, we can prepare important documents, provide general information about your rights, and refer you to a qualified attorney when your situation requires it.