Many more rental tenants in California, as of January 1, 2020, now have further protections against high or draconian rent raises from their landlords. The new law passed by the California legislature in October, 2019, is called The Tenant Protection Act of 2019.
The Act’s most powerful protection is a “cap” on rent increases (not the base rent) of more than 5% plus the cost of living index for that locality. This applies to rentals in areas not already having rent control measures locally in place. So, this Act works to cover all locales in California which do not have already-existing rent controls. There are about 47 cities and counties in the state which already have strong to vigorous rent and eviction protections. It should be noted that in general the 47 cities and counties with existing controls are overall stronger than the new state law.
The Act also puts into effect “just cause” limitations which prohibit termination of a tenant who has lived in a rental unit for at least 12 months. The “just cause” includes tenant-at-fault conditions (the tenant is late in rent payment) and no-fault conditions such as the owner move-ins.
Here at Rodriguez Law Group, Inc., we have a team of attorneys who are expert and very experienced in tenant suits against landlords in California. This new law may be contested by landlords in your locale, and we are standing by to take your case toward a successful and rewarding conclusion.
The result is the strongest rent and eviction control in California ever. Lawmakers contend that part of the purpose of the Act is to ameliorate the situations of homeless individuals being unable to cope with unaffordable rent increases. So, at heart, much of the law is an attempt at dealing with the state’s homeless situation.
The new law went into effect January 1, 2020, with some of its measures transitioning in over the first few months of the year.
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