Knowing your rights is the first step to protecting your home. Our plain-language guides break down California tenant law — evictions, repairs, habitability, deposits, and the latest renter-protection laws — so you can understand where you stand and what to do next.
Free, easy-to-read guides written for renters — not lawyers. New guides are added regularly.
A plain-language overview of the core protections every California renter has — from habitability to eviction rules — and how to use them.
Read More DepositsCalifornia’s 21-day rule, what a landlord can legally keep, the proof they need, and exactly what to do when your deposit isn’t returned.
Read More Law UpdatesRequired stoves and fridges, new disaster protections, electronic deposit refunds, and a Social Security eviction safety net — what changed this year and how it helps you.
Read More EvictionsStep by step, from the first notice to court to the sheriff — and the points where tenants have real rights and defenses.
Read More EmergenciesThe urgent steps to take, your right to get back into your home, and what a landlord may owe you for an illegal lockout.
Read More RepairsHow the remedy works, the strict limits most renters don’t know about, and safer ways to get serious repairs made.
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