SB567: Is Your Home Covered?
By Aser G. Tolentino, Esq.
With everyone talking about the new tenant protections available starting April 1, 2024 thanks to SB567, it might be a good idea to revisit what kinds of rental units are covered by California’s rent increase limits and just cause for eviction protections. As a reminder, the applicable sections of the civil code are Sections 1946.2 for the just cause for eviction protections, and Section 1947.12 for the rent increase limitations.
If you can answer “No” to all of these questions, you are probably covered by state-wide rent control:
– Is your unit regulated by an affordable housing program or rent subsidy program?
– Is your rental unit part of a school of some kind?
– Is your rental unit covered by a local rent control law?
– Is your unit newer than fifteen years old?
– Is your rental unit part of a duplex, and has your landlord lived in the other unit since you moved in?
– Could your landlord sell your unit and only your unit or would it have to be sold with other rentals: basically, is your home a house or condominium rather than an apartment?
– If you are covered by local rent control, your protections are usually but not always better than what the state can provide. Also, even if your home is a house or condo, it is still possible you might be covered, so checking with a tenant rights attorney would still be a good idea.
If you can answer “No” to all of these questions, you are probably covered by state-wide just cause for eviction requirements.
– Is your unit in a hotel?
– Is your unit regulated by an affordable housing program or rent subsidy program?
– Is your rental unit part of a school of some kind?
– Is your unit operated by a hospital or some other kind of care facility?
– Do you share dining or bathing facilities with your landlord?
– Do you live on a property with your landlord on which they rent fewer than two rooms or accessory dwelling units?
– Is your rental unit part of a duplex the other of which has been your landlord’s home since you moved in?
– Is your unit newer than fifteen years old?
Making sure you are covered by the law is a necessary first step before communicating your position to your landlord. Making it clear to them that you have done your homework can make it much easier to get what you need, but it is also important to balance that information with the best message to achieve your goals. This is something that Advice Attorneys at Tenant Law Group help renters with every day. Feel free to reach out to our intake team if you have questions.
