Fullerton Landlord Harassment Lawyer

Landlord harassment is any deliberate action by a landlord or property manager that creates a hostile environment to force a tenant out or pressure them into giving up their legal rights. This violates a tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of their property, which is protected by law.

A Fullerton landlord harassment lawyer from our firm could help you document evidence of harassment, file complaints with relevant housing authorities, and represent you in any legal proceedings. Our habitability attorneys could also help you register your concerns with authorities or take legal action if your landlord is neglecting critical repairs that affect your safety and health.

What Are Common Examples of Landlord Harassment?

In California, landlords are prohibited from harassing tenants, and state law outlines specific conduct that qualifies as harassment. Harassment that forces a tenant to vacate their premises may also be considered a constructive eviction. Common examples of landlord harassment include:

• Entering the rental unit without proper notice and outside of emergencies or agreed-upon maintenance
• Turning off essential services such as water, electricity, or gas to pressure a tenant
• Serving deceptive or threatening notices of eviction to scare tenants into leaving
• Using verbal or physical threats to force a tenant out of their home
• Aggressively demanding rent or other payments in a way that causes distress or fear
• Intentionally neglecting necessary repairs to make the property uninhabitable
• Repeatedly demanding rent increases far beyond legal limits or after a tenant rejects a buyout offer
• Changing the locks to prevent a tenant from entering their own rental unit

The law also prohibits harassment based on a tenant’s race, gender, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics Landlords are prevented from retaliating against a tenant for exercising their legal rights, such as reporting code violations or forming a tenants’ association.

Tenants are protected under the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment, which guarantees them the right to live peacefully without substantial interference from their landlord. If your landlord is illegally harassing you, do not wait to contact a Fullerton attorney to discuss your legal options.

Legal Options To Address Landlord Harassment

If you believe your landlord is engaging in illegal harassment, keep a detailed log of every incident, including the date, time, and a description of what occurred. Be sure to preserve any evidence you have, such as emails, text messages, and photos.

An attorney could send a cease-and-desist letter to your harassing landlord. This is a formal letter stating that the landlord’s conduct is illegal and demanding that it stop, which may be an effective first step. If you are experiencing severe harassment or physical threats, we could file for a restraining order to restrict your landlord’s contact with you.

A Fullerton lawyer could help you assess your legal options, which may include suing the landlord for damages from harassment. You could sue for actual losses, such as relocation expenses, and potentially punitive damages to penalize the landlord for malicious conduct. Compensation may also be awarded for mental or emotional suffering caused by the harassment. In many cases, the landlord may be required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees if you win your lawsuit.

Contact a Fullerton Attorney for Help With Landlord Harassment

A Fullerton landlord harassment lawyer from our legal team could explain your protections under state landlord-tenant laws. We could guide you on how to document harassment and keep detailed logs of all related incidents.

Sometimes, we may directly communicate with the landlord or their legal counsel to negotiate a resolution. If negotiation fails, our lawyers could represent you in court to sue for damages. Contact us today for your free case consultation.