Los Angeles Habitability Lawyer
Helping Clients Seek Justice for Inhabitable Rental Properties
As a tenant, you may find yourself in a vulnerable position if a landlord fails to provide safe premises. Property owners can cause havoc in tenants’ lives when rental units don’t have adequate heating, water, and other necessary features. According to California landlord/tenant law, landlords must account for basic necessities when tenants rent their properties.
California has some of the strongest tenant protection laws in the country, which is good news for tenants suffering from landlord harassment or failure to provide habitable living conditions. However, exercising your rights under California law can be challenging without knowing how these regulations affect you. Hiring a tenants rights lawyer can lead to excellent counsel and legal representation as you face this challenging situation.
When you hire the legal team at Gomez Law, APC, you can get help with various issues, including habitability violations, pest infestations, failure to make necessary repairs, and other actions from negligent landlords. Our team of attorneys can help rectify unsafe conditions and recover damages for health issues, emotional distress, and more. Call 213-772-6404 today to schedule a free consultation and protect your legal rights.
At Gomez Law, APC, we focus on a range of real estate disputes, including a strong emphasis on the following case types:
- Partitions
Assisting clients in dividing jointly-owned property fairly, whether through negotiation or legal action, to resolve co-ownership disputes. - Quiet Title Actions
Helping clients establish clear ownership of property and resolve conflicting claims, ensuring your title is legally protected. - Real Estate Fraud
Representing clients who have been victims of deceptive practices, including misrepresentation or forgery in real estate transactions.
Along with these cases, we handle additional real estate disputes to safeguard your rights and investments.
What Are the Landlord’s Duties Regarding Habitability in California?
California state law has strict requirements regarding landlords’ duties when renting to tenants. Sadly, many tenants don’t realize they have rights, resulting in much suffering that could have been avoided. If you think your landlord has violated landlord/tenant law, please don’t hesitate to speak with an experienced tenants rights lawyer like those at our law firm. We can help identify whether you have a strong case and provide the legal representation you deserve.
Some examples of landlords’ requirements under Los Angeles habitability laws include:
- Not engaging in rent increases more than is legally allowed
- Providing written notice before entering rental properties
- Ensuring the unit has functioning electric, gas, and plumbing
- Maintaining the unit in a manner that meets standards for health hazards and safety hazards
- Taking appropriate actions to eliminate pest infestations
- Making prompt repairs
- Providing a unit that is structurally sound and in good repair
- Fixing inoperable appliances in a reasonable time frame
If you or a loved one is dealing with uninhabitable living conditions in the Los Angeles area, you should hold landlords accountable by taking legal action. Habitability lawsuits aren’t necessarily about taking revenge. Through legal action, you can encourage negligent landlords to make necessary repairs and prevent the same issue from happening to someone else. Contact our law firm immediately to seek compensation through legal recourse.
What Remedies can Resolve Habitability Issues?
The following are some examples of remedies that can result in positive solutions during habitability violations:
- Request repairs – One of the first actions a tenant should make is to request the landlord repair the unit.
- Give the landlord reasonable notice, including a demand letter that includes the date and property’s address, especially if you plan to withhold rent.
- Withhold rent, which means refusing to pay rent until the unit is made habitable – Please note that withholding rent is only legal in certain instances in California. Speaking with a habitability attorney can help you decide whether withholding rent or pursuing legal action is the best course.
- Constructive eviction – You also have the option of leaving the property and legally breaking the lease agreement if the landlord refuses to provide a habitable living situation.
- Take legal recourse with the help of a Los Angeles habitability lawyer.
Landlords have the duty to keep the premises safe and ensure appliances are functioning. This responsibility includes making repairs promptly. If you have given your landlord plenty of notice and are still dealing with premises liability issues, please get in touch with a habitability attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can inform you about your options and help you make the best decision in your scenario.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have a Legal Issue Regarding Habitability?
If your rental unit has habitability issues, such as faulty plumbing, substandard living conditions, lack of utilities, and other problems that your landlord refuses to rectify, you may have a legal case against the rental company. People facing habitability issues often wonder how to take advantage of California’s warranty of habitability.
Tenants can take action against landlords who fail to comply with the law by pursuing legal action. Habitability cases can be complex, requiring evidence to prove that the landlord did not comply with the implied warranty in California law. You can get help navigating this complicated legal process when you hire a habitability attorney like those at Gomez Law, APC.
Your attorney can investigate to find proof that your landlord did not provide adequate living conditions. They can also ensure repairs are handled properly so you can return to your home as soon as possible. In some cases, landlords may pay tenants punitive damages for causing extreme damage.
How Can a Habitability Lawyer Help Me?
Facing an issue with your rental unit can be highly stressful and confusing. You may wonder where even to start when requiring landlords to fulfill their duties under California landlord/tenant law. Many tenants don’t know what their rights are regarding habitability.
Your habitability attorney can help by:
- Explaining your rights as a tenant living in California
- Identifying whether your living situation qualifies as inhabitable
- Investigating the structural integrity of your home, including any safety and health hazards
- Helping you navigate the legal process of habitability lawsuits in Los Angeles
- Resolving habitability issues through negotiations or mediation if possible
- Offering guidance during eviction cases
At Gomez Law, APC, our team of attorneys has extensive experience with Los Angeles habitability lawsuits. We have helped countless tenants with habitability cases when landlords fail to fulfill their duties with their rental properties. We will fight tirelessly for you in your legal matter. Call now to schedule your free consultation.
Should You Hire Our Los Angeles Habitability Lawyer?
With the many law firms in Los Angeles, it can be difficult to choose the right attorney. You need someone who is highly familiar with tenant rights and California state law. Your tenants rights lawyer should be there for you when a landlord does not meet the legal requirements under landlord/tenant law.
We at Gomez Law, APC, are proud to represent victims of various real estate-related problems, including habitability cases. We promise to fight for you to get a positive resolution when you face habitability issues in your rental unit. We understand California habitability laws and will apply that knowledge when fighting for you.
Don’t let a negligent landlord rob you of your right to habitable living conditions. Take action now by contacting our law office. We’ll schedule a free, confidential consultation where you can talk to our lawyers about your needs and goals. Call 213-772-6404 to speak with our compassionate, capable legal team today!