Defining Tenant Harassment and Understanding the Legal Options Available – Tenant Harassment Lawyers

Under Section 45.33 of Los Angeles Municipal Code, “Tenant Harassment” is defined as a “landlord’s knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific tenant or tenants that causes detriment and harm, and that serves no lawful purpose.” Some examples of tenant harassment include the following:

• Reducing/eliminating housing services required by either lease, contract, or law (such as parking)
• Failing to make necessary repairs and maintenance as required by law (Federal, State, County, local housing, health, or safety laws)
• Failing to follow industry standards regarding lead, asbestos, dust, or other building materials
• Abusing the right to access rental units, including entering units, photographing units, etc. outside the scope of lawful entry into rental units
• Threatening tenants with physical harm (verbal threats or even gestures)
• Attempting to coerce tenants to vacate the unit with payment offers
• Falsely telling the tenant that they are required to vacate the unit or enticing the tenant to vacate the unit through misrepresentation, concealment, or omission of fact
• Threatening to evict or evicting the tenant based on false claims
• Threatening or taking any action that would prevent a tenant from using and enjoying their rental unit or that would make the property unsuitable for habitation
• Failing to acknowledge or accept lawful rent payments made by tenants
• Inquiring into the immigration/citizen status of tenants
• Disclosing or threatening to disclose information regarding tenant immigration status in retaliation for tenants engaging in any legally protected activities to influence them to vacate the unit or for other reasons
• Disclosing or threatening to disclose any information about a tenant to any government entity for engaging in protected activities or to influence them to vacate the unit
• Engaging in any activity prohibited by law (including federal, state, or local housing anti-discrimination laws)
• Taking any negative action against tenant organization activities (retaliation, threats, etc.)
• Interfering with tenant’s right to privacy or requesting information in violation of the right to privacy (such as residency status, citizenship status, social security number, etc.)
• Other repeated acts or omissions that interfere with or disturb tenant comfort, peace, quiet, or repose that cause, are likely to cause, or are intended to cause tenants to waive their rights to tenancy (or leave the unit)

In general, landlords engage in tenant harassment because they want the tenants to leave the property. Tenants who believe that they were subject to harassment can have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against their landlords; based on the details surrounding each situation, they may also have a right to recover compensation.

If you are interested in learning more about the legal options available to you and your family after being subject to harassment by a landlord, contact us today.

Unfortunately, many landlords get away with the mistreatment and harassment of their tenants – usually because tenants are uninformed about the different laws that protect them. However, even when tenants understand the different laws that protect them, they may hesitate to take any action because of the fear of retaliation. Here at our law firm, our tenant right attorneys will be available to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice. If you decide to go ahead and pursue a civil lawsuit, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible.

What rights do I have as a tenant? Without a doubt, trying to understand the different housing and tenant laws can seem overwhelming. Some of these include the following:

• The Warranty of Habitability, which states that landlords must ensure that their rental units are kept in a habitable condition
• Tenants may have the right to withhold rent to make repairs themselves if landlords do not make repairs themselves (tenants may also request reimbursement for repairs made)
• Tenants may make complaints/reports to the appropriate authorities or departments about the conditions of their rental units (i.e., complaints to the landlord, reports with the health department, etc.)
• Tenants may not be evicted for making complaints about the condition of the rental property

Based on your specific situation, you could have the right to pursue civil action against your landlord. Whether you were harassed until you moved out, suffered any retaliation after making complaints or reports, or were forced to live in unsafe conditions, for example, you could have the right to pursue a claim. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your right to pursue a claim – and the type of claim that you could pursue – contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.

If your rights as a tenant were violated, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Based on your specific situation, you could have the right to sue your landlord and recover compensation. Here at our firm, our team has decades of experience and is ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice. We know how difficult it can be to come forward and pursue a claim, so we are committed to making the process as simple as possible. We offer free case evaluations. These include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – ensuring that you have access to all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim (that is, if you have already started it elsewhere but are looking to switch representation). To schedule a free case review, contact us today.

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never be required to pay any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. Our law firm works on a strict contingency structure, so our clients will never be responsible for paying legal costs if their claims are not successful. In other words, you will not pay anything if you do not win!

Contact us today to learn more about how our tenant rights attorneys can help you with your case!

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