In a landlord-tenant dynamic, the tenant can, unfortunately, find themselves at the mercy of a landlord’s abuse of power. Though it may sometimes feel as though you are powerless to advocate for your own rights and interests, a tenant attorney in San Bernardino can ensure that you achieve a favorable outcome when dealing with an abusive landlord.
At LA Century Law, we help renters and other tenants understand their rights as outlined in California’s landlord-tenant statutes. Learn more about the role we can play if you are facing a dispute or wrongful conviction at the hands of your landlord.
The Role of a Tenant Attorney
A tenant rights attorney can assist with representing your best interests in all manner of interactions with your landlord. You can involve our team in your landlord-tenant dynamic as early as the signing of a lease agreement. We ensure that the terms of your lease are fair and that they comply with state and local laws. If there is a problem with the lease, we can intervene to negotiate better terms on your behalf.
Other circumstances when you may want a tenant attorney to represent you include:
- Rental disputes regarding payment, deposits, maintenance, or other alleged violations
- Eviction scenarios in which the landlord may be in violation of their rights to evict you
- Compliance violations that unlawfully render your residence uninhabitable according to local regulations
- Termination scenarios in which you wish to terminate the lease or in which the landlord wrongfully attempts to terminate the agreement
- Fair housing issues in which the landlord does not provide you with a fair and reasonable opportunity to keep or maintain housing
If you are unsure if you can resolve your landlord-tenant dispute through legal action, contact our tenant attorneys in San Bernardino to learn more about what we can do to help.
Your Rights to a Habitable Space as a Tenant
It is important to remember that you have clear and inviolable rights as a tenant. You do not have to blindly accept the wrongful behavior of an abusive landlord. At LA Century Law, we can help you understand your rights to a habitable space and recognize when a landlord’s actions might be in violation of California’s civil code.
As a tenant in California housing, you have the right to a habitable space that has:
- Functional heating and air conditioning
- Functional plumbing with running water (hot and cold)
- No vermin, rodents, or other pests on the premises
- Safety measures in place
- Comprehensive weather protection
Your rights as a tenant also include the right to relocation assistance. If a landlord attempts to displace you without just cause, you might be eligible to receive financial assistance in moving to a different housing property. Similarly, you have the right to seek legal representation from a tenant attorney in San Bernardino when served with a notice or a summons and complaint from your landlord.
Challenging Wrongful Evictions in San Bernardino
One particularly common and contentious issue that tenants can experience with their landlord is a wrongful eviction. Many landlords make the mistake of assuming that they can evict a tenant at will. In reality, there are only specific circumstances when it is legally permissible to terminate a lease agreement and evict a tenant from their home.
Valid reasons that a landlord may attempt to evict a tenant include:
- Failure to pay rent on time and after receiving a notice
- Violating the rental lease agreement
- Repeating acts of property damage or other violations
- Remaining on the property without a lease or after the end date of a lease
A tenant attorney in San Bernardino can play a key role in contesting an unlawful eviction. Even if a landlord cites a seemingly valid reason for presenting an eviction notice, you still have the option to seek legal representation to help you prove that you were not in violation of your rental agreement and that you have every right to remain as a tenant in your current home.
Filing a Claim Against a Landlord
Just as you have certain responsibilities and obligations outlined by state and local law, as well as in your lease agreement, so too does your landlord. Landlords have the responsibility to provide habitable premises that are safe for human occupation by taking actions including, but not limited to:
- Applying weather protection and waterproofing to roofs and exterior walls
- Providing functional plumbing, gas, and heating facilities that comply with local law
- Maintaining electrical lighting and keeping related wiring and equipment systems in good repair
- Keeping floors, stairways, and railings in good repair
- Providing an adequate number of clean, functional receptacles for garbage
A tenant attorney in San Bernardino can assist with the process of filing a claim against your landlord if they violate any of these or other legal responsibilities. Keep in mind that California law outlines a statute of limitations of between one and four years, depending on the nature of the violation, after which it will not be possible to pursue legal action.
Consult a Tenant Attorney in San Bernardino
Landlord-tenant disputes can be complex matters that entail laws and regulations at both the city and state levels. If you are facing a wrongful eviction or any other personal injury situation that violates your rights as a tenant, contact us at LA Century Law to find out what a tenant attorney in San Bernardino can do for you.
