A Renter’s Guide to California Habitability Laws

Every California tenant has the right to safe, livable housing. When a rental unit has serious problems like broken plumbing, no heat, unsafe stairs, mold, pests, or other habitability issues, tenants do not have to stay silent.

California law also protects tenants from retaliation when they request repairs, report unsafe conditions, or take legal action.

At SNS Law Group, we help tenants understand their rights, stand up to unlawful landlord conduct, and pursue the protections and remedies they may deserve.

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Hi. I’m Khushboo Vasandani, an Associate Attorney based in Los Angeles. I started my legal career as a trial attorney in India, and after moving to California, I spent several years representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases.

That experience shaped how I advocate today by standing up for individuals who have been harmed and making sure their voices are heard.

I now focus on habitability and tenant side litigation, where I represent tenants as plaintiffs and help them enforce their right to safe, livable housing.

Rental Units Must Meet Habitability Requirements

Here’s something every tenant should know. A safe and livable home isn’t a luxury. It’s the law. Under California law, landlords are required to maintain rental units in a habitable condition.

What does that mean? That means working plumbing and electricity, hot and cold running water, heat, weather-proof windows and doors, safe floors, safe stairways, proper garbage removal, and property that’s clean and free from pests, rodents, vermin, or mold. When these basics are missing, the unit may be legally considered uninhabitable.

Retaliation is Prohibited

Many tenants worry that complaining or taking action will put their housing at risk. But California law is very clear. Tenants have the right to complain and seek repairs, and landlords are prohibited from retaliating when tenants exercise those rights.

If a tenant requests repairs, reports unsafe conditions, files a complaint with a governmental agency, or brings a legal claim based on habitability issues, a landlord generally cannot evict them, raise their rent, or reduce services as long as the tenant is current on rent.

Retaliation isn’t always obvious. It can include subtle or direct threats, including threats to report a tenant or their family to immigration authorities. Just like what you see is happening nowadays, which is actually expressly prohibited under California Law.

When retaliation does occur, tenants may use it as a defense in an eviction case, and in many situations, tenants may also bring affirmative claims for damages, relocation fees, attorney fees. These are your rights. These protections exist so tenants can hold landlords accountable without fear of losing their home.

Contact SNS Law Group About Habitability Issues

If you’re living in unsafe conditions, or you believe your landlord is retaliating against you for speaking up or asserting your rights, don’t ignore it. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Talk to SNS Law Group and learn what legal protections and remedies may be available to you. We’re here for you.