Index

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) - Just Cause Eviction

Summary

Landlords must have a 'just cause' to evict tenants who have lived in a unit for 12 months or more.

Rights & Rules

  • 01.
    After a tenant has resided in a unit for at least one year, landlords can only evict for specific 'at-fault' reasons (e.g., non-payment, lease violation) or 'no-fault' reasons (e.g., owner move-in, withdrawing property from market), the latter often requiring relocation assistance.
  • 02.
    Tenants are protected from arbitrary evictions and must be given a valid, legally recognized reason for termination of tenancy.

Penalties

  • 01.
    Landlords who violate this act can be liable for damages, including lost rent, moving expenses, and potentially punitive damages.
  • 02.
    Eviction lawsuits filed without a valid just cause can be dismissed, requiring the landlord to restart the process correctly or withdraw the notice.

Verified Citations

California Civil Code § 1946.2

Source
"Requires 'just cause' for termination of tenancy after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months. Specifies 'at-fault' and 'no-fault' just causes."