Hovssepian Law · Landlord Tenant Law
California Tenant Rights:
What Your Landlord Cannot Legally Do
By Edric Hovssepian, Attorney at Law · Glendale, California
California provides tenants with some of the strongest housing protections in the nation. Yet many tenants don't know their rights, and many landlords count on that. Here is what California law prohibits your landlord from doing.
1. Evict You Without Just Cause (AB 1482)
Under California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), most tenants who have lived in a unit for 12 months or more can only be evicted for "just cause", such as nonpayment of rent, breach of lease, or specified no-fault reasons with relocation assistance. Your landlord cannot simply decide not to renew your lease to get rid of you if your unit is covered.
2. Raise Your Rent Excessively
AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI, with a maximum of 10% for covered units. In Los Angeles, the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) provides even stronger protections for qualifying tenants. If your landlord raises your rent beyond the legal limit, you can challenge it.
3. Fail to Maintain Habitable Conditions
Under Civil Code § 1941, your landlord must maintain your rental unit in a habitable condition, including working heat, plumbing, weatherproofing, and freedom from mold, pests, and unsafe conditions. If your landlord fails to make repairs after being notified, you may be able to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct, or sue for damages under Civil Code § 1942.
4. Enter Without Proper Notice
Under Civil Code § 1954, your landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your unit, and can only enter for specific legally permitted purposes such as repairs, inspections, or showing the unit to prospective tenants. Unauthorized entry is a violation of your privacy rights.
5. Harass, Lock Out, or Shut Off Utilities
Under Civil Code § 789.3, it is illegal for a landlord to harass tenants, change locks without proper eviction proceedings, remove doors or windows, or willfully cut off water, gas, electricity, or other utilities to force a tenant to leave. These acts are known as "self-help evictions" and are strictly prohibited. Remedies include actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
6. Wrongfully Withhold Your Security Deposit
Under Civil Code § 1950.5, your landlord must return your security deposit within 21 days of move-out with an itemized statement of any deductions. Landlords can only deduct for unpaid rent, excessive cleaning, or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Wrongful withholding can result in your landlord owing you up to twice the deposit amount in statutory damages.
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Injured at Work in California?
Here's What to Do Immediately
By Edric Hovssepian, Attorney at Law · Glendale, California
If you were injured at work in California, you have important legal rights, and important deadlines. Acting quickly can make the difference between receiving full benefits and losing your claim entirely. Here is what you need to do right away.
Step 1: Report Your Injury Within 30 Days
Under California Labor Code § 5400, you must report your work injury to your employer within 30 days of the injury or of becoming aware that your illness or condition is work-related. Report it in writing and keep a copy. Missing this deadline can result in your claim being denied.
Step 2: Get the DWC-1 Claim Form
Your employer is legally required to provide you with a Workers' Compensation Claim Form (DWC-1) within one working day of learning about your injury. Complete it, keep a copy, and return it to your employer. This officially opens your workers' compensation claim. Do not let your employer discourage you from filing.
Step 3: Seek Medical Treatment
Your employer's workers' compensation insurance is required to authorize medical treatment within one working day of receiving your claim form. In the meantime, you are entitled to up to $10,000 in medical treatment while your claim is being investigated. Seek treatment immediately and document all medical visits, diagnoses, and prescriptions.
Step 4: Know Your Benefits
California workers' compensation provides five categories of benefits:
- →Medical Treatment, All reasonable and necessary medical care paid by your employer's insurance
- →Temporary Disability (TD), Two-thirds of your average weekly wages while unable to work (Labor Code § 4653)
- →Permanent Disability (PD), Ongoing payments if you have a lasting impairment (Labor Code § 4660)
- →Supplemental Job Displacement, Up to $6,000 for retraining if you cannot return to your prior job
- →Death Benefits, For surviving dependents if the injury causes death (Labor Code § 4700)
Step 5: Contact a Workers' Compensation Attorney
Insurance companies work to minimize your claim from day one. Having an experienced workers' compensation attorney on your side ensures you receive every benefit you are entitled to. Hovssepian Law represents injured workers exclusively, never employers or insurance companies, and handles workers' comp cases on contingency.
Injured at Work? Call Hovssepian Law Today.
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Was I Wrongfully Terminated?
California Employee Rights Explained
By Edric Hovssepian, Attorney at Law · Glendale, California
California is an at-will employment state, but that does not mean your employer can fire you for any reason. California law provides some of the strongest wrongful termination protections in the country. If you were recently terminated, here is what you need to know.
What Is At-Will Employment in California?
California Labor Code § 2922 establishes that employment with no specified term may be terminated by either party at any time. However, this at-will doctrine has significant exceptions. Employers cannot terminate an employee for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for protected activity, or in violation of public policy, regardless of at-will status.
Illegal Reasons for Termination in California
Your termination may be wrongful if it was motivated by any of the following:
- →Discrimination, Race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin under FEHA (Gov. Code § 12940)
- →Retaliation, For reporting illegal conduct, filing a workers' comp claim, or participating in an investigation (Labor Code § 1102.5)
- →CFRA/FMLA Leave, Termination for taking protected medical or family leave
- →Whistleblowing, Reporting safety violations, wage theft, or other legal violations to a government agency
- →Violation of Public Policy, Serving on jury duty, voting, refusing to commit an illegal act
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
Under California's FEHA, you must file a complaint with the Civil Rights Department (CRD) within three years of the discriminatory or retaliatory act. For federal claims under Title VII, the deadline is 300 days with the EEOC. These deadlines are strict, missing them will bar your claim entirely.
What Can You Recover?
California wrongful termination victims may recover back pay and lost wages, future lost earnings, emotional distress damages, punitive damages in cases of egregious conduct, reinstatement to their former position, and attorney's fees and court costs.
Think You Were Wrongfully Terminated? Let's Talk.
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Free Consultation (323) 410-0100Hovssepian Law · Lemon Law
Does My Car Qualify as a Lemon
in California: A 2025 Guide
By Edric Hovssepian, Attorney at Law · Glendale, California
If your new car has been in the shop multiple times for the same problem, or has spent weeks out of service, you may have a lemon law claim under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Here's how to know if your vehicle qualifies.
What Is California Lemon Law?
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. It requires manufacturers to either replace or repurchase a vehicle when they cannot repair a defect within a reasonable number of attempts. One of its most powerful features: if you win, the manufacturer must pay your attorney's fees under Civil Code § 1794(d), meaning most lemon law cases cost the consumer nothing.
The Two Lemon Law Triggers Under California Law
Under Civil Code § 1793.2, California presumes a vehicle is a lemon if either of the following is true:
Repair Attempts
The same defect has been repaired 4 or more times without being fixed. Safety defects may qualify with as few as 2 attempts.
Days Out of Service
The vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days due to warranty repairs, even across multiple visits.
What Vehicles Are Covered?
California lemon law covers new vehicles purchased or leased in California that are still under the manufacturer's original warranty. Used vehicles may also qualify if they are still covered by the original manufacturer's new car warranty at the time of purchase. Electric vehicles (EVs) are fully covered, battery and powertrain defects qualify just like mechanical defects in traditional vehicles.
What Can You Get If You Win?
If your vehicle qualifies, you are entitled to either: (1) a full repurchase, your original purchase price, all monthly payments made, your down payment, taxes, and registration fees, minus a usage offset; or (2) a comparable replacement vehicle. Additionally, under Civil Code § 1794(d), the manufacturer must pay your attorney's fees, meaning you typically pay nothing out of pocket to pursue your claim.
How Long Do You Have to File?
The statute of limitations for a California lemon law claim is generally four years from the date of the breach of warranty. However, the sooner you act, the stronger your case, repair records are easier to obtain, and manufacturers are more likely to settle before litigation.
Think You Have a Lemon? Let Hovssepian Law Check.
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Free Lemon Law Evaluation (323) 410-0100A car accident can happen in an instant — but the decisions you make in the minutes and hours that follow can significantly affect your ability to recover full compensation under California law. Here is a step-by-step guide from a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.
1. Call 911 and Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel fine, call 911 immediately after any accident. Many serious injuries — including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries — do not present obvious symptoms right away. A police report creates an official record of the accident, and prompt medical treatment creates a medical record linking your injuries to the collision. Both are critical for your personal injury claim.
2. Document Everything at the Scene
Use your phone to photograph and document:
- →All vehicles involved — including license plates and damage
- →The accident scene — road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks
- →Your visible injuries
- →The other driver's license, insurance card, and registration
- →Names and contact information of any witnesses
3. Do Not Admit Fault
Do not say "I'm sorry," "I didn't see you," or anything that could be interpreted as an admission of fault — even if you think you may have contributed to the accident. California is a pure comparative fault state under Civil Code § 1714, meaning fault is determined by investigation, not by what you say at the scene. Statements made at the scene can be used against you.
4. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
After an accident, the other driver's insurance company will often call you quickly requesting a recorded statement. You are not legally required to give one. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize your claim. Do not provide a recorded statement before consulting with a personal injury attorney.
5. Know California's Statute of Limitations
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the at-fault driver was a government employee or the accident involved a government vehicle, you must file a government tort claim within six months. Missing these deadlines will bar your claim entirely.
6. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
The sooner you contact an attorney, the better. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and insurance companies move quickly to close claims for as little as possible. Hovssepian Law offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
What You Can Recover After a Car Accident in California
Economic Damages
- → Medical bills (past & future)
- → Lost wages and income
- → Property damage
- → Rehabilitation costs
Non-Economic Damages
- → Pain and suffering
- → Emotional distress
- → Loss of enjoyment of life
- → Loss of consortium
Injured in a Car Accident? Call Hovssepian Law.
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