Protection for victimized tenants broadened.

Civil Code §1946.7; Code of Civil Procedure §1161.3

Amended by S.B. No. 1403

Effective date: January 1, 2013

Under existing law, victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or stalking may terminate a residential lease by delivering to their landlord a written 30-day notice to vacate. Landlords may not terminate or fail to renew a tenancy based on the tenant’s status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or stalking. [See first tuesday Form 572]

Abused elders, abused dependent adults and their household family members are now on the list of victims protected under this law.

The tenant’s 30-day notice to vacate must be accompanied by written documentation supporting the abuse. A protective order now fulfills that documentation requirement.

Related articles:

Tenant May Terminate a Lease due to Sexual Assault, Stalking, or Domestic Violence

Landlord’s responsibility to tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking

Tenant subjected to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking has 180 days to serve notice to vacate

The Judicial Council must create or amend a form for tenants protected under this rule to use as a defense to an unlawful detainer action. The deadline for the creation of this form is now January 1, 2014.