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Legal Information: California

California Housing Laws

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Housing Laws

Ending a Lease

Basic info and definitions

What housing laws can protect me if I need to break my lease?

There is a housing law in California that allows you (the tenant) to terminate your lease before it expires if you, a member of your household, or an immediate family member is a victim of any of the following crimes:

You will not be considered to have violated (breached) your lease if you properly terminate your lease under this law.2

Note: If you are a victim of one of these crimes mentioned above, and you are not asking to terminate your lease, there still may be reasons why a landlord can terminate your tenancy. To read what the law says about when a landlord can terminate a victim’s tenancy, go to our Selected California Statutes page. If you have questions about your housing rights, you can get information on an anti-discrimination law called the Fair Housing Act on the Civil Rights Division website and information on basic tenants’ rights with contact info for legal assistance on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(a)
2 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(f)

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How does the law define "immediate family member" and "household member"?

If you are the tenant, your “immediate family member” is defined as your parent, step-parent, spouse, child, child-in-law, step-child, sibling, or any person living in your household who has a relationship with you that is substantially similar to that of a family member. Your “household member” is defined as a member of your family who lives in the same household as you.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(h)(1), (h)(3)

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What documents or proof do I need to give to my landlord to get out of my lease?

If you (the tenant), a member of your household, or an immediate family member is a victim of any of the qualifying crimes, you must do the following:

  1. You must have one of the following documents that was issued within the last 180 days:
    • a temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or protective order from the court that protects you, your household member, or your immediate family member from one of the qualifying crimes;
    • a copy of a written report from a peace officer stating that you, your household member, or your immediate family member filed a report due to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or abuse of an elder or dependent adult or human trafficking;
    • documentation on official letterhead from a qualified third party, such as a counselor, case worker, psychologist, doctor, etc., based on information s/he received while acting in his/her professional capacity, which says that the you, your household member, or your immediate family member is seeking assistance for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting from one of the qualifying crimes – you can find the “qualified third party statement” form in section (b)(3)(B) of the law; or
    • any other form of documentation that reasonably verifies that the one of the qualifying crimes occurred; and
  2. ​You must give your landlord written notice that you are terminating your lease due to one of the qualifying crimes along with a copy of one of the documents described above. This must be given to the landlord within 180 days of when you received the temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or protective order or within 180 days of when you reported the crime.1

If your immediate family member was the victim of a crime but s/he did not live with you at the time the incident occurred and no part of the crime happened in your home or within 1,000 feet, you will need to provide additional documentation to be able to break your lease. Look at section (c) of the law for more information.2

Note: If you have a month-to-month lease, the notice may be given within the regular time frame for terminating a monthly tenancy, which is at least 30 days’ written notice.3 In this case, you may decide not to reveal your status as a victim to your landlord and simply terminate your tenancy in the time allotted by law. For legal advice on whether or not to use this law to terminate a monthly tenancy, you may want to seek advice from a lawyer. Go to our CA Finding a Lawyer page for legal referrals.

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(a), (b), (d)
2 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(c)
3 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946

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After you terminate your lease

If I reveal that I am a victim to my landlord, can s/he tell other people?

A landlord is not allowed to share any information that you provide unless:

  • you consent in writing;
  • the law or a court order requires the landlord to so do; or
  • the person that the landlord is talking to is the “qualified third party” who provided the written documentation for you that states that you are a victim. In that case, the landlord is allowed to call that person to verify what is written in the documentation.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(i)

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Once I notify my landlord that I want to end my lease, do I still have to pay my rent?

Once you send the written notice to your landlord, you still have to pay your rent for the next 14 calendar days unless the landlord rents the premises to someone else during that 14-day period and then the rent you owe will be prorated.1 For example, let’s say you give notice and you leave on September 30th and you pay rent through October 14th. Then the landlord gets a new tenant who moves in October 7th. You can ask to be reimbursed half of your rent that you paid for October.

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(e)

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If I end my lease under this law, will I lose my security deposit?

The landlord cannot keep your security deposit to penalize you for breaking your lease under this law. In addition, if you paid rent in advance, you will not have to give up (forfeit) that advance rent.1 The same laws that apply to all tenants for security deposits apply to you as well. In general, a security deposit can be kept by a landlord, in whole or in part, to reimburse the landlord for damage you cause to the apartment, aside from ordinary “wear and tear”, cleaning, key replacement, or back rent owed.2

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(f)
2 See CA Courts website

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If I end my lease, will my roommate or family members be kicked out of the residence?

If your roommate or family members are listed as “tenants” on the lease, their tenancy still continues, even if you end yours.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code §1946.7(g)

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If I terminate my lease, will that harm my chances of renting a new apartment?

The law says that landlords cannot refuse to rent an apartment to someone who is otherwise qualified solely because the tenant terminated a lease under this law that protects victims.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(j)

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What can I do if the landlord doesn't follow this law?

You can sue your landlord in civil court if the landlord or someone acting on his/her behalf (an “agent”) breaks this law. There are two different categories of money (“damages”) that you can sue for:

  1. “Actual damages” is money to repay you for any losses or injuries you had.
  2. “Statutory damages” is an amount of money between $100 and $5,000 that the law says the judge can give.1

However, whether or not the judge can give you statutory damages depends on the proof of abuse that you gave your landlord. The judge cannot give statutory damages if you only gave the landlord “any other form of documentation that reasonably verifies that one of the qualifying crimes occurred.” This means that you can only file for statutory damages if you gave your landlord one of the following as proof of the abuse:

  • a restraining or protective order;
  • a police report; or
  • a letter from a qualified third party, such as a counselor, case worker, psychologist, doctor, etc.2 

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(k)
2 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(k)(2)(B)

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Protection from Retaliation for Calling Law Enforcement (nuisance protections)

Who is protected under this housing law?

You could be protected under this law if you are a tenant and are also a:

  • victim of abuse;
  • victim of crime; or
  • person in an emergency.1

If your landlord is trying to keep you from calling law enforcement or punish you for calling, you may be protected.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8

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Who is considered a “victim” or a “person in an emergency” under this law?

You are a victim of abuse if you have been subjected to:

You are a victim of crime if someone has committed a misdemeanor or felony crime against you.2

You are considered a person in an emergency if you believe that immediate action is needed to prevent the loss of or damage to:

  • life
  • health; or
  • property.3

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(a)(5)
2 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(a)(6)
3 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(a)(1)

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Can a landlord prohibit me from calling the police?

Your landlord cannot state in your lease that you are unable to call the police. Specifically, your lease cannot include any language that would ban or limit you, another resident, or another person’s right to call law enforcement or emergency assistance for:

  • a victim of abuse;
  • a victim of crime; or
  • a person in an emergency.

The person who calls the police must believe that law enforcement or emergency assistance is needed to:

  • prevent or deal with an act of abuse, a crime, or an emergency; or
  • stop the heightening or worsening of an act of abuse, a crime, or an emergency.1

If your landlord does include language in your lease that would keep you from calling law enforcement or emergency assistance, it will be void and unenforceable.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(b)

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Can a landlord punish me or evict me for calling the police?

A landlord cannot punish, or threaten to punish, you or another resident for exercising your right to request law enforcement or emergency assistance on behalf of a:

  • victim of abuse;
  • victim of crime; or
  • person in an emergency.1

Your landlord also cannot put any penalties in place if a person who is not a resident or tenant calls law enforcement or emergency assistance to your residence.

To be protected under this law, the person who calls the police must believe that law enforcement or emergency assistance is needed to prevent or deal with an act of abuse, or the heightening or worsening of an act of abuse, a crime, or an emergency.1

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(c)

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What can I do if my landlord evicts me for calling the police?

If your landlord sues to evict you, you can argue as a defense that the landlord violated this law. The judge will assume (presume) that the landlord has violated this law if:

  • your landlord files a complaint to evict you within 30 days of a resident, tenant, or other person making a request for help from law enforcement or emergency assistance; and
  • the complaint alleges that calling law enforcement or emergency assistance is a rental agreement violation, lease violation, or a nuisance.1

The landlord will have a chance to prove that s/he did not violate this law by showing that there was a substantial reason for the complaint other than requesting help from law enforcement or emergency services.2

Additionally, if your landlord violates this law, you can request an injunction. An injunction is a court order that requires a person to stop taking certain actions. The injunction can stop the landlord from:

  • creating or enforcing policies that violate this law; and
  • imposing or threatening to impose penalties against the tenant, resident, or other harmed person based on requesting help from law enforcement or emergency assistance on behalf of a victim of abuse, victim of crime, or person in an emergency.3

1 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(f)(1)
2 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(f)(2), (f)(3)
3 Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.8(g)

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Protection from Housing Discrimination

Who does this law protect?

There is a housing law in California that could protect you (the tenant) if you, a member of your household, or an immediate family member is a victim of any of the following crimes:

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(a)

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How does the law define "immediate family member" and "household member"?

If you are the tenant, your “immediate family member” is defined as your parent, step-parent, spouse, child, child-in-law, step-child, sibling, or any person living in your household who has a relationship with you that is substantially similar to that of a family member. Your “household member” is defined as a member of your family who lives in the same home as you.1

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(a)(4); Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.7(h)(1), (h)(3)

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Can a landlord refuse to renew my lease or evict me because I am a victim?

Your landlord cannot end your lease (“terminate a tenancy”) or refuse to renew your lease (“fail to renew a tenancy”) if the abuse you, your immediate family member, or your household member experienced has been properly documented. There are exceptions however.1 Your landlord can terminate your lease or not renew it if:

  1. the person identified as the abuser in your documentation is also a tenant in your unit; or
  2. both of the following are true:
  • the abuser’s words or actions have threatened the physical safety of other tenants, guests, invitees, or licensees; and
  • the landlord served you with a three-day notice requiring you not to voluntarily allow or agree to the abuser coming into the unit or the surrounding property (“the premises”), but you continue to allow the abuser to be there.2

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(b)(1)
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(b)(2)

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What documentation do I need to show my landlord to prove that I am a victim of abuse?

You can use any of the following documentation as proof that you or a member of your immediate family or household are a victim of one of the qualifying acts of abuse:

  • a temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or protective order for domestic violence, civil harassment, or elder or dependent adult abuse that was issued during the last 180 days that protects you or your immediate family or household member from abuse;
  • a copy of a written report issued within the past 180 days from a peace officer working in his/her official capacity for a state or local law enforcement agency that says that you or a member of your immediate family or household are a victim of abuse; or
  • documentation from a “qualified third party” working in his/her professional capacity that states that you or a member of your immediate family or household member is looking for help for physical or mental injuries that resulted from an act of abuse.1

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C)

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Who is considered a qualified third party? What type of documentation do I need from a qualified third party?

A “qualified third party” is a:

  • health practitioner;
  • domestic violence counselor;
  • sexual assault counselor; 
  • human trafficking caseworker; or
  • victim of violent crime advocate.1

If a qualified third party is providing you with documentation to show your landlord, the third party should include information showing that you or your immediate family or household member or are getting or asking for help for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting from one of the qualifying acts of violence. The law includes a template that the third party can use when creating a document for you.2

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(a)(6)
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(a)(2)(C)

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Can my landlord ever terminate my lease or refuse to renew my lease if I am a victim of abuse?

This law does not stop a landlord from terminating your lease, refusing to renew your lease, or evicting you for a valid legal reason. This law keeps a landlord from evicting you because you are a victim of abuse.1 However, your landlord can end your lease or refuse to renew your lease for the reasons explained in Can a landlord refuse to renew my lease or evict me because I am a victim?2

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(b)(1)
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(b)(2)

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Can my landlord tell others about my situation?

Your landlord cannot share information about your situation with others unless:

  • you agree in writing that your information can be disclosed; or
  • the law or a court order requires your landlord to share your information.1

However, your landlord is allowed to speak to the qualified third party who provides your documentation to verify the information.2

1 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(e)(1)
2 Cal.C.C.P. § 1161.3(e)(2)

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