Habitability Defects

In the Bay Area, habitability disputes often start with a deceptively simple problem: no heat, no hot water, or unreliable utilities. These are not minor inconveniences or quality-of-life complaints. Under California law and local housing codes, heat, hot water, and...

Every tenant inevitably has things come up during their tenancy that require them to contact their landlord. Whether your landlord owns one unit or 1,000, how you communicate with them can affect your legal rights if a dispute arises. At...

If you spend time walking, riding, or driving through San Francisco’s busy streets, you know construction is always ongoing in the city. Construction in or near your building may disturb your peace and quiet, and sometimes that’s unavoidable. But while...

Tenants have a legal right to a reasonable degree of quiet, privacy, and enjoyment of their rental property. Unfortunately, landlords do not always honor this right. For example, the landlord of a rent-controlled unit might intentionally cause excess noise or...

Every tenant in San Francisco has the right to live peacefully in their rental unit, also known as the right to quiet enjoyment. Tenants are also entitled to basic health and safety standards, known as the implied warranty of habitability....

The implied warranty of habitability is a traditional concept that states landlords must keep their properties in a safe and livable condition. This warranty exists in every lease, whether written or oral, and cannot be waived. As such, tenants have...

Mold infestations are not just unsightly: they can be harmful to your health and disruptive to your life. For tenants in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Oakland, understanding your rights is especially important because local laws provide stronger protections than state...

At first you try to put it out of your mind. But there's no denying the scratching and gnawing that you hear between the walls. All signs point to an apartment rat infestation. Unfortunately, this is fitting because ever since...

Thinking about suing your landlord? If you find yourself in a position where you are considering bringing a lawsuit against your landlord. Because the remedies available to tenants vary depending on the city you live in, be sure to consult...