What are "Just Cause Evictions"?

The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 also known as AB-1482 was passed in October of 2019 and took effect in 2020. This bill included a section limiting the amount of rent that can be increases and a new term called "just cause" to the eviction procedure.

What does "just cause" mean?

Under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, the landlord is required to explain the reason for the eviction. This bill was passed in order to reduce retaliatory eviction cases. and set forth two types of "just cause" evictions. These two types of evictions are "at-fault" and "no-fault".

• At-Fault Evictions: These types of evictions occur when the tenant has done something wrong. If the issue can be fixed though, the tenant must be given a notice acting as a warning to fix the current issue. At-fault evictions are for defaults in payments of rent, breach of the lease agreement, nuisance, criminal activity, subleasing, refusal to provide access to the property, refusal to sign a lease under the same provisions, failure to vacate after giving a notice to vacate to the landlord. Under this type of eviction, the tenant is not entitled to any relocation assistance.

• No-Fault Evictions: These types of evictions occur when the tenant is not at fault such as a government order to vacate the property, the landlord or their relatives plan to move back into the home, the property is being demolished or remodeled, or if the landlord decides to stop renting this property. Under this type of eviction, the tenant is entitled to relocation assistance. This relocation assistance has to be equal to one month's rent and it can be satisfied by waving in writing the tenant's obligation to pay the final month's rent.

Tip:

Under the eviction moratorium of AB-3088 also known as the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020, landlords must also comply with the "just cause" section of AB-1482 in order to successfully evict a tenant from a property.