California's New Just Cause Eviction Law 2024 (2024)

California's New Just Cause Eviction Law 2024 (1)

By Kayvon Homayoun Tuesday, March 26, 2024

New 2024 CA Eviction Law That Landlords and Tenants Should Know

California passed a new landlord-tenant law that will provide additional protections for renters around just cause evictions. Set to take effect on April 1, 2024, the law will require landlords to have just cause to terminate tenancy after a tenant has been placed in the unit for 12 months. Read along to see what landlords and tenants should know about this new legislation.

What is the new California Tenant Law?

The new law, California Civil Code Section 1946.2, prohibits landlords from terminating tenancy without "just cause" once a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied the rental unit for 12 months. Just cause can be broken into 2 categories:

At Fault Just Cause:This includes a violations like non-payment of rent, breach of the lease agreement, subletting violations, refusing entry to the landlord, illegal activity, causing damage beyond normal wear and tear, disruptive behavior that violates the quiet enjoyment clause.

No-Fault Just Cause:This covers situations where a landlord or close family member moving in, taking the unit off the rental market, complying with a governmental order, intent to demolish or substantially remodel, or intent to remove the unit from the residential housing market.

What does it mean for landlords?

The new law places significant restrictions on when landlords can terminate a tenancy and requires them to state the just cause in the termination notice. For no-fault terminations, landlords must provide relocation assistance equal to one month's rent.

Why this also offers protections for landlords?

While the new law places some limits on the ability to terminate tenancy, there are provisions that protect landlords as well. The law allows for evictions for lease violations like non-payment of rent, waste of the property, or illegal activity.

What does it mean for tenants?

Tenants receive new protections against arbitrary evictions under the new law. As long as they occupy the unit lawfully, and commit no lease violations, they gain tenure rights after 12 months of continuous occupancy.

Tenants facing no-fault evictions, like a landlord moving in, are entitle to relocation fees. Additionally, the new law specifies remedies tenants can pursue if a landlord violates the just cause requirements, including punitive damages.

Conclusion

Both landlords and tenants should carefully review the requirements to understand their rights and responsibility under the new law.

Many landlords may require assistance in navigating tenant communications, termination procedures, relocation fees, and record keeping. Here at Harland Property Management, we stay up to date on the latest laws and regulations affecting California landlords. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you navigate the new Just Cause Eviction Law with confidence and focus on what matters most - managing your investment.

Author

California's New Just Cause Eviction Law 2024 (2)

Kayvon Homayoun

Kayvon Homayoun is a successful real estate entrepreneur with a background in hotel management. He obtained his real estate license in 2002 and quickly became a top-performing agent, ranking among the top 2% in sales volume nationally. In 2005, he founded Harland Property Management, which has grown into a leading property management firm for residential and multi-family properties in San Diego County. He also founded a general contracting firm in 2020, providing services to clients, including l...

Kayvon Homayoun is a successful real estate entrepreneur with a background in hotel management. He obtained his real estate license in 2002 and quickly became a top-performing agent, ranking among the top 2% in sales volume nationally. In 2005, he founded Harland Property Management, which has grown into a leading property management firm for residential and multi-family properties in San Diego County. He also founded a general contracting firm in 2020, providing services to clients, including large companies, such as Zillow, Curbio, and Opendoor. Kayvon actively runs both firms and is dedicated to providing unparalleled services to his clients.

California's New Just Cause Eviction Law 2024 (2024)

FAQs

California's New Just Cause Eviction Law 2024? ›

California passed a new landlord-tenant law that will provide additional protections for renters around just cause evictions. Set to take effect on April 1, 2024, the law will require landlords to have just cause to terminate tenancy after a tenant has been placed in the unit for 12 months.

What is the new tenant law in California in 2024? ›

However, starting from July 1, 2024, new legislation under California's AB 12 will limit security deposits to one month's rent for furnished and unfurnished units. However, small landlords can charge up to two months' rent.

What is the new law for eviction in California? ›

The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) is a new law that requires a landlord to have a valid reason to evict renters so long as the renter has lived in the rental housing for at least 12 months. This is called “just cause” protections for eviction.

How long are evictions taking in California in 2024? ›

California Eviction Timeline
Notice Received by TenantsAverage Timeline
Initial Notice Period3-15 days
Issuance and Posting of Summons and Complaint4-5 days
Tenant Response Period5 business days
Court Ruling on the Eviction and Posting of Writ of Possession5 days
1 more row

What is exempt from just cause eviction in California? ›

Just Cause Exempted Properties: The following properties are exempted from the just cause requirements: Transient and tourist hotel occupancy (i.e., Short term rentals for less than 30 days) Dormitories (i.e., colleges, or grade 1-12) Housing subject to rent or price control through a public entity restriction.

How long does it take to get evicted for not paying rent in California? ›

After the landlord gives you the Notice it can take 30-45 days, or longer, for the eviction case to end. If you lose the case, the judge can order you to move out of your home. Select any part to learn more, get step-by-step instructions, and download the forms you'll need.

What is the no-fault eviction law in California? ›

No-Fault Just Cause Eviction: This type of eviction is not based on the tenant doing something wrong, but rather on the actions of the landlord. For instance, if the landlord wants to get possession of the unit back to move in personally, to renovate or remodel the unit, or to comply with a government order.

Is there a just cause eviction in California 2024? ›

California passed a new landlord-tenant law that will provide additional protections for renters around just cause evictions. Set to take effect on April 1, 2024, the law will require landlords to have just cause to terminate tenancy after a tenant has been placed in the unit for 12 months.

How much time does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in California? ›

A landlord can use a 30 day-notice to end a month-to-month tenancy if the tenant has been renting for less than a year. A landlord should use a 60-day notice if the tenant has been renting for more than one year and the landlord wants the tenant to move out.

What is an Ellis Act eviction? ›

The “Ellis Act” is a state law which says that landlords have the unconditional right to evict tenants to “go out of business.” For an Ellis eviction, the landlord must remove all of the units in the building from the rental market, i.e., the landlord must evict all the tenants and cannot single out one tenant (for ...

Can you stop an eviction by paying in California? ›

Your landlord may be willing to stop the eviction if you agree to certain terms, such as paying rent you owe or stopping behavior that violates the lease. If you can't come to an agreement that prevents you from moving out, perhaps you can agree on a certain date and time for when you will move out of the rental unit.

What is the new tenant protection law in California? ›

Rent cannot be raised over any 12-month period more than the rate of inflation (Consumer Price Index or “CPI”—www.tenantprotections.org/calculator) + 5%. In no case can it be more than 10%. Rent can only be raised twice within any given 12-month period. California law limits the reasons why a renter can be evicted.

How late can you pay rent in California? ›

The grace period typically lasts between three and five days after the rent due date. There are no exceptions or limitations to grace periods in California law, but landlords can customize the number of days in their lease as long as there are no specific laws requiring a specific amount of time.

What are the new rental laws in California 2024? ›

California Senate Bill 567, i.e., the Homelessness Prevention Act, which goes into effect on April 1, 2024, seeks to cap rent hikes at 10% and prevents landlords from evicting tenants without a legal cause. California Assembly Bill 12, i.e., the new residential security deposit law, which goes into effect on July 1, ...

What are just cause requirements? ›

The passage of AB 1482 established statewide “just cause” protections for tenants in 2019. This law says if you have lived in a rental more than 12 months, the landlord can only evict you for certain approved reasons, such as: Failure to pay rent. Violating the rental agreement. Creating nuisance behavior.

Do I have 30 days to move after an eviction in California? ›

All written eviction notices come with either a three-day, 30-day, 60-day or 90-day deadline. Some eviction notices ask the tenant to simply move out. When figuring out the day the deadline lands on, start counting each day from the day after the notice is received without including weekends or court holidays.

Can a landlord ask for first and last month rent plus security in California in 2024? ›

Thanks to AB-12, renters in California can no longer be asked for a security deposit larger than one month's rent for leases signed on or after July 1, 2024.

What are three rights tenants have in California? ›

According to California landlord-tenant laws, tenants have the right to live in safe, habitable rental units, as well as sue the landlord for retaliation, withhold rent for failure to provide essential services, recover attorney's fees, and more.

Will rent go down in 2024 in California? ›

(NerdWallet) – An ongoing boom in apartment construction has helped slow down rental inflation — but renters shouldn't expect prices to drop dramatically from their pandemic-padded highs. That means affordability will remain the dominant narrative in rental housing in 2024.

What is the new law for section 8 housing in California? ›

Under the new law, the screening criteria applied to a voucher holder must be the same criteria applied to other applicants for tenancy. However, any income standard applied by the housing provider must be based on the portion of the rent which would be paid by the Section 8 tenant, rather than on the contract rent.

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