| Prohibited acts |
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Cutting off, failing to provide, or threatening to cut off required services like utilities, access, or doors and windows. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textInterrupt, terminate, or fail to provide, or threaten to interrupt, terminate, or fail to provide, housing services required by a rental housing agreement or by state or local housing, health, or safety laws. -
Failing, or threatening to fail, to make required repairs or maintenance. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textFail to perform, or threaten to fail to perform, repairs or maintenance required by a rental housing agreement or by state or local housing, health, or safety laws. -
Not diligently finishing repairs, or not following proper containment or cleanup steps. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textFail to exercise due diligence in completing repairs or maintenance once undertaken or fail to follow appropriate industry repair containment or remediation protocols designed to minimize exposure to noise, dust, lead paint, mold, asbestos, or other building materials with potentially harmful health impacts. -
Retaliating by trying to evict, forcing a move-out, cutting services, or raising rent. Applies: Only in bad faith, with intent to retaliate for, or discourage, a tenant asserting their rights.
§ 11-5.03 · code textTake, or threaten to take, any action to recover possession or cause the tenant to quit the unit involuntarily, decrease a housing service, or increase rent with the intent to retaliate against a tenant for the tenant's assertion or exercise of any right under this title -
Asking a tenant for sexual conduct in exchange for eviction protection, repairs, maintenance, or meeting a landlord duty. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textSolicit a tenant for sexual conduct in exchange for protection from eviction, repairs or maintenance of the rental unit or rental property, or the fulfilment of an obligation of the landlord under the rental housing agreement or law. -
Abusing the right to enter the unit. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textAbuse the right of access into a rental unit as established and limited by Cal. Civil Code § 1954 or successor statute, including entering or photographing portions of the rental unit that are beyond the scope of a lawful entry or inspection. -
Removing the tenant's belongings, furnishings, or service items without prior written consent. Applies: Only in bad faith; except when done under Civil Code § 1980 et seq.
§ 11-5.03 · code textRemove from the rental unit personal property, furnishings, or other items that belong to the tenant or that are part of the housing services without the prior written consent of the tenant, except when done pursuant to the procedures set forth in Cal. Civil Code § 1980 et seq., or successor statute. -
Removing or towing a tenant's vehicle in violation of the law. Applies: Only in bad faith; towing allowed by law is not harassment.
§ 11-5.03 · code textRemove or cause removal of a tenant's vehicle from the rental property or abutting street in violation of applicable law. -
Pushing a tenant to move out through fraud, intimidation, or coercion, including certain threats about immigration status. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textInfluence or attempt to influence a tenant to vacate a rental unit through fraud, intimidation, or coercion. -
Offering money to move out more than once in 6 months after the tenant declined in writing. Applies: Only in bad faith, after the tenant said in writing they want no more offers.
§ 11-5.03 · code textOffer payments to a tenant to vacate more than once in six months, after the tenant has notified the landlord in writing the tenant does not desire to receive further offers of payments to vacate. -
Pressuring a tenant to move with payment offers combined with threats or intimidation. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textAttempt to coerce a tenant to vacate with offer(s) of payments to vacate that are accompanied with threats or intimidation. -
Threatening a tenant or guest with physical harm. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textThreaten a tenant or their guest by word or gesture, with physical harm. -
Verbal or nonverbal abuse, or conduct likely or intended to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textEngage in verbal or nonverbal abuse of a tenant or their guest or use verbal or nonverbal actions directed at a tenant or their guest that are likely, or intended, to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm -
Interfering with a tenant's right to quiet use and enjoyment of the unit. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textEngage in any act or omission that interferes with a tenant's right to quiet use and enjoyment of a rental unit, as that right is defined by California law. -
Breaking anti-discrimination laws covering the listed protected traits. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textViolate a law that prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender, sexual preference, sexual orientation, ethnic background, nationality, ancestry, place of birth, immigration or citizenship status, primary language, religion, age, source of income, military or veteran status, familial status -
Refusing to accept or acknowledge lawful rent. Applies: Only in bad faith; except during an eviction process.
§ 11-5.03 · code textRefuse to accept or acknowledge receipt of a tenant's lawful rent payment, except when a landlord is engaged in a tenant eviction process. -
Not cashing a rent check or money order for more than 30 days. Applies: Only in bad faith; except during an eviction process.
§ 11-5.03 · code textRefuse to cash a rent check or money order for more than 30 days, except when a landlord is engaged in a tenant eviction process. -
Invading a tenant's privacy or asking for information that violates their privacy. Applies: Only in bad faith; except as the law allows.
§ 11-5.03 · code textEngage in any act that interferes with a tenant's right to privacy or request information that violates a tenant's right to privacy, including, without limitation, residency or citizenship status or social security number, except as authorized by law. -
Falsely telling a tenant they must move, or luring them out by hiding or misstating key facts. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textMisrepresent to a tenant that they are required to vacate a rental unit or otherwise entice a tenant to vacate a rental unit through misrepresentations or concealment of material facts. -
Forcing a tenant to move out and re-register so they are not treated as a tenant. Applies: Only when done in bad faith.
§ 11-5.03 · code textForce a tenant to vacate their rental unit and reregister to avoid classification as a tenant under Cal. Civil Code § 1940.1. -
Unilaterally imposing or requiring agreement to material new tenancy terms or a new rental agreement. Applies: Only when done in bad faith (§ 11-5.03(A)); Unless authorized by the title, specified California statutes, federal/state/local law, regulatory agreement, or accepted in writing after notice that acceptance is not required; rent-stabilized units must comply with the Rent Stabilization chapter
§ 11-5.03 · code textUnilaterally impose or require an existing tenant to agree to material new terms of tenancy or to a new rental housing agreement, unless: -
Using a bad-faith rent increase to force out a tenant from a unit exempt from rent limits. Applies: Only in bad faith; applies to units exempt from rent increase limits.
§ 11-5.03 · code textTake any action to recover possession of a rental unit that is exempt from rent increase limitations under this title or any other provision of law by means of a rent increase that is imposed in bad faith with intent to coerce the tenant into vacating the rental unit -
Banning, interfering with, or retaliating against tenant organizing or tenant-hosted political activities. Applies: Only in bad faith; reasonable time, place, and manner rules are allowed if they don't effectively block the activity.
§ 11-5.03 · code textProhibit, interfere with, retaliate against, or threaten retaliation against tenant organizing activities or engaging in other political activities when hosted by a tenant. -
Repeated significant acts or omissions substantially interfering with or disturbing occupants’ comfort, peace, or quiet and causing, likely to cause, or intended to cause vacancy or waiver of rights. Applies: Only when done in bad faith (§ 11-5.03(A))
§ 11-5.03 · code textOther repeated acts or omissions of such significance as to substantially interfere with or disturb the comfort, peace or quiet of any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of such rental unit and that cause, are likely to cause, or are intended to cause any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of a rental unit to vacate such rental unit or to surrender or waive any rights in relation to such occupancy.
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