Housing Law/Landlord Tenant/Habitability Issues
As a tenant in California, you have a right to seek to rent and live anywhere in the State of California. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to a tenant, or engage in any other type of discrimination, on the basis of group characteristics specified by law that are not closely related to the landlord’s business needs. Race and religion are examples of group characteristics specified by law. Arbitrary discrimination on the basis of any personal characteristic is also prohibited. Indeed, the California Legislature has declared that the opportunity to seek, obtain and hold housing without unlawful discrimination is a civil right.
Under California law, it is unlawful for a landlord, managing agent, real estate broker, or salesperson to discriminate against a person or harass a person because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to them, as well as gender and perception of gender), sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, or disability. California law also prohibits discrimination based on any of the following:
- A person's medical condition or mental or physical disability; or
- Personal characteristics, such as a person's physical appearance or sexual orientation that are not related to the responsibilities of a tenant; or
- A perception of a person's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability or medical condition, or a perception that a person is associated with another person who may have any of these characteristics.
Under California law, a tenant is entitled to live in an apartment that is fit for human habitation. Where a premises suffers from any of the below defects, a tenant is entitled to certain remedies under California law.
Collapse and nonrepair of the bathroom ceiling.
Continued presence of rats, mice, and cockroaches.
Lack of any heat in four of the apartment's rooms.
Plumbing blockages.
Exposed and faulty wiring.
An illegally installed and dangerous stove.
If you perceive that you have been discriminated against in any way, the Law Offices of Ilu J. Ozekhome will fight for you. Do not allow a slum landlord to intimidate you. If you are a rent paying tenant, you have the right to enjoy the benefits of your rent and live in a clean and humane premises free from any form of harassment and/or intimidation.