Landlord-Tenant
Your Landlord Must Repair and Maintain Your Rental Unit
If you have experienced substandard conditions in your rental unit because of your landlord’s failure to provide repair and maintenance, we are here to help.
California law requires landlords to repair and maintain rental units so that they are safe and fit for tenants to live in, commonly known as the “Warranty of Habitability.” This means that landlords are legally responsible for repairing conditions that seriously affect the tenants’ living conditions. Specifically, landlords must repair substantial defects in the rental unit that are in violation of state, local building, and health codes. However, landlords are not responsible for repairing damages caused by the tenant or the tenant’s family, guests, or pets.
Your Rental Unit Must Have the Following
- The inside of the unit must have:
- Proper waterproofing and weather protection of the roof and exterior walls
- Plumbing facilities in good working condition
- Hot and cold running water
- Connection to a sewage disposal system
- A working toilet, sink, and bathtub/shower
- A kitchen with a sink
- Heating sources (e.g., heater) and gas facilities in good working condition
- Electricity system, such as lighting and wiring, in good working condition
- Property free of an infestation of insects, rodents, and vermin (including bed bugs)
- A rental property that is free of lead paint and mold that may affect the livability of the unit or the health and safety of the tenants
- Natural lighting in every room through windows or skylights. Windows in each room must be able to open at least halfway
- Working smoke detectors in all units of multi-unit buildings
- Working locks on the main entry door of rental, and a working locker security device on the windows
Outside of Unit
- Clean, sanitary, and well-lit building and grounds
- Adequate trash receptacles in good condition
- Floors, stairways, and railings in good condition
- Safe fire or emergency exits leading to a street or hallway
- Apartment buildings must have smoke detectors in common areas
Reporting Substandard Conditions to Local Governmental Agencies
If you have experienced substandard living conditions, and your rental unit lacks the characteristics listed above, you should consider reporting these issues to your local building and health departments. For example, in Los Angeles, you may contact the City of Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD), Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), and The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. If a governmental agency issues a citation to the landlord to repair the substandard conditions and the landlord fails to do so, there are additional legal remedies you could pursue.
We Are Committed to Getting You Justice
We exclusively represent tenants in their pursuit of justice against slumlords who fail to repair and maintain their rental units. Therefore, the firm has extensive experience in advocating for tenants in a variety of habitability issues and getting its clients the compensation they deserve.
Call us today because we can help. No recovery, no fee.