Wrongful Eviction

California law protects tenants from being forced out without a proper legal process. A wrongful eviction occurs when a landlord removes or pressures a tenant to leave without first obtaining a court order through an unlawful detainer case. 

A Landlord’s illegal tactics may include changing the locks, shutting off utilities, removing belongings, making threats, creating unlivable conditions, retaliating against a tenant for reporting violations or joining a tenant organization, or falsely claiming an owner or family member will move in only to re-rent the unit at a higher price. Statewide protections such as California Civil Code §1946.2 require landlords to have a legally valid reason to terminate a tenancy, and cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose may impose even stricter local eviction protections. 

Tenants who are wrongfully evicted may recover statutory penalties, moving and temporary housing costs, rent differentials, storage expenses, emotional distress damages, damages under California Civil Code §789.3 and some local housing ordinances. 

If you are facing an illegal eviction, document everything, save messages and receipts, photograph conditions or lockouts, identify witnesses, contact law enforcement if you are locked out, avoid signing anything under pressure, and speak with an experienced tenant-rights attorney as soon as possible.

If you have been wrongfully evicted, by your landlord, contact Law Offices of Ugo O. Asobie. No consultation fees. Wrongful eviction cases are handled on contingency.