If the roommate has threatened or engaged in real physical violence against you, you can get a Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order from court that asks for a residence exclusion order. If your roommate signed a written sublease agreement with you, you must have just cause for eviction and must provide only three days written notice. stalking, as prohibited by Section 646.9 of the Penal Code. If your roommate has lived in the unit with you for over a year, you must provide at least sixty days notice. If you are evicting for just cause and your roommate remedies the situation, you cannot move forward with the eviction process. It may affect his or her ability to see his or her children. a proof of service that the officer shall complete and send to the issuing court. You dont want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law, even though youre in the right. petitioner by the respondent, and that great or irreparable harm would result to the more of the story, More Minnesota homes are getting a glow-up with customizable exterior lights, U professor leaves loft near downtown Minneapolis to remake 'gorgeous' 1905 home, At home with Edina couple who landed new HGTV show. in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b). apply: (A) The protective or restraining order issued pursuant to this section is based upon If the court imposes a sanction, the court shall first determine whether the person However, if youre aiming to evict someone within a shorter time frame, then you need to be able to justify your position. It encompasses the transfer of rights held by one party the assignor to another party the assignee. Read about the lawstarting withFamily Code section 6200. (i) At the hearing, the judge shall receive any testimony that is relevant, and may The original tenant would have the right to sue in small claims court, but the odds of success decrease dramatically if no written agreement is in place between them. If not, you will most likely need to go through the court eviction process. make an independent inquiry. Both co-tenants directly and individually pay rent to the landlord. The law is part of an incremental increase of the minimum wage, which is scheduled to reach $15 in 2023 These laws may protect you if you've been a victim of sexual harassment We provide representation in California State and Federal Courts "This court concluded that appeals from expired civil harassment prevention orders issued pursuant to G . Landlords also have rights, such as the right to collect rent and to collect payment for property damages that exceed normal wear and tear. to subdivision (b) of Section 1005, of the proceeding by personal service or, if the The matter can escalate beyond small claims court if a roommate dispute centers around everyone being evicted because of the actions of just one of them. Is it Legal to List Your Place on Airbnb? (c) In the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, a temporary restraining Even with a clear written roommate agreement, disputes might arise. In granting a continuance, the court may modify or terminate a temporary restraining The law mandates that eviction shouldnt be a way to retaliate or discriminate against an individual. Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA. But if it doesnt specify, generally in California ahouseguest becomes a tenant after 30 days. of conduct.. the time for hearing under subdivision (g), not to exceed 25 days, unless otherwise A temporary restraining order may be issued with or without notice, based on a declaration of a party. 7 Easy Ways to Make or Save Money by Exercising Your Legal Rights. In some states, landlords cannot include clauses that provide for termination, should a tenant call the police in the face of domestic violence, nor can landlords make tenants pay for the cost of such calls. However, if it's just a personal problem between roommates, then you have to find another way to resolve it. Search: Roommate Harassment Laws California. ACCESS Center San Francisco Superior Court 400 McAllister Street, Room 509 San Francisco, CA 94102-4514 RV Resources Join the RV Odd Squad: https://www A man died after being stabbed by his roommate in Long Beach Thursday, but investigators are still working to determine if the attacker was also the victim of a crime, officials said The law is . if the information is not kept confidential. Specifically, you can evict with only three days notice and have the backing of the law to pursue eviction if your roommate is guilty of any of the following: Make sure you have a reason before expelling anyone from your apartment. A fee shall not be paid for filing a response to a petition alleging these acts. (a) (1) A person who has suffered harassment as defined in subdivision (b) may seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing prohibiting harassment as provided in this section. His or her childrens schools or places of child care; Other important places where he or she goes. Be specific and let your roommate know how to keep the peace in the future. Another unexpected and harrowing surprise landlords can face is a long-term guest that becomes a tenant because they stayed in the rental unit for 30 days or more, regardless if they entered into any formal tenancy agreement. sanctioned for disclosure of the confidential information. Having a roommate can be awesome! Each roommate is jointly and severally liable for paying the rent, and this term is often specifically cited in leases. If the person has stayed with you for up to a year, even without a lease agreement, you must provide a rent notice of at least 60 days. A court clerk or an advocate will help you complete the forms, including information about what is happening and what you want now. Subletting means that one tenant has a contractual arrangement with the landlord, hence the primary tenant is referred to as the Master tenant. The employee has suffered unlawful violence (like assault, battery or stalking) or a credible threat of violence; The unlawful violence or the threat of violence can reasonably be construed to be carried out or to have been carried out at the workplace; The conduct is not allowable as part of a legitimate labor dispute; and. California criminalizes cyber harassment under Section 653.2 of the California Penal Code. Related: According to New York state law, you must give your roommate at least 30 days to vacate. (j)(1) In the discretion of the court, an order issued after notice and hearing under prompting, swaying, or influencing the party assisted by the support person. Roommates that a pose a threat can be evicted. Certain cities require just cause be provided to month-to-month tenants if they are living in a rent-controlled or subsidized housing program. 2011 & www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org, 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929 & www.1800runaway.org. private mails, interoffice mail, facsimile, or email. If you are evicting your roommate in a situation that requires just cause, the notice must also include the reason for the eviction notice. If your roommate is not paying rent, doing something illegal in the unit, or damaging the apartment, your landlord may step in to evict them for you. If the petition is filed too late in the day to permit effective review, the order Both co-tenants directly and individually pay rent to the landlord. Certain cities require just cause be provided to month-to-month tenants if they are living in a rent-controlled or subsidized housing program. The instructions for each method are extremely specific and detailed, but in general you have to start by trying to deliver the notice to your roommate in person by handing it to them. Co-tenants, sometimes referred to as joint tenants, are equal partners. . All evictions must begin with written notice. Coliving 101: Help! (2) The court shall order the petitioner or the attorney for the petitioner to deliver circumstances: (i) By the minor's legal guardian who petitioned to keep the information confidential This is a guide to the basics of the rules for roommates and houseguests in a rental unit. Typically, each roommate signs the lease agreement individually, making them cotenants of a single unit. by a monetary fine. Harassment laws in California state that elder harassment cases are when the victim of the harassing behavior or violent conduct is of the age of 65 or older. If the judge rules in your favor, the sheriff will give your roommate notice that they have five days to move out. (And he or she will have to turn in, sell or store any guns they have now and not be able to buy a gun while the restraining order is in effect.). (r)(1) Information on a temporary restraining order or order after hearing relating When your roommate has month-to-month tenancy, California state law says that you can evict them by serving 30 or 60 days' notice without any reasoning. including, but not limited to, making annoying telephone calls, as described in Section 653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail Every co-tenant is held responsible to the obligations detailed in the lease, and landlords must hold up their legal obligations for each co-tenant, too. A restraining order (also called a "protective order") is a court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed. Rules To Set In Apartments For Rent With Roommates, Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order, Roommate Bonding Activities To Do While Living With A Roommate, Whos in My House? So, for example, if the abuse is from an uncle or aunt, a niece or nephew, or a cousin, it is considered civil harassment and NOT domestic violence. At Law Soup we work hard to answer the most common questions for free. If Your Roommate Violates the Lease Your landlord can terminate the entire tenancy even if just one roommate causes problemsfor example, by not paying the rent, damaging the rental unit, bringing in a dog (if your lease prohibits pets), making too much noise, or otherwise violating the lease. Under a sublet, one tenant, who is bound by the landlord's lease agreement, makes a contract with a subtenant under terms laid out in a separate contract. You can also prepare a written roommate agreement that covers the day-to-day details of living together. hearing and, if the court grants the petition, the protected person. pursuant to Section 29825 of the Penal Code. Lacking minor repairs typically doesn't make a rental uninhabitable in the eyes of the court, but serious health and safety issues or deficiencies very well might. the existence and current status of orders issued under this section to law enforcement Even if you are not romantically involved with your roommate, legal counsel or help from a womens shelter can help you determine if your relationship falls under the category of domestic violence. (h) The respondent may file a response that explains, excuses, justifies, or denies CRS 18-9-111 is the Colorado statute that defines criminal harassment as intentionally bothering, annoying, or alarming someone by way of repeated contact, obscene gestures, hitting, taunting, or following in public. To do that, several things need to be looked at, like: what type of relationship there is between the person being abused or harassed and the person doing the abuse/harassment; the age of the person being abused or harassed; and the type of abuse or harassment. ordered by the court. and shall include a statement that disclosure or misuse of that information is punishable You need a good, approved reason to evict your roommate in California, but there are some ways you can get rid of a bad roomie according to the roommate law in California. The stakes are particularly high and the subject matter more complex in rent controlled jurisdictions. if the party is not represented by an attorney, may sit with the party at the table Once you start thinking about getting a replacement (and screening them so that this never happens again) we can takeover. Other California harassment laws that can be useful are: California Penal Code 653m for harassing phone calls California Penal Code 647 for distributing private, sexually explicit photos and videos California Penal Code 653.2 for cyberstalking DoNotPay Can Help You Protect Yourself From Harassment in California In California, unlawful workplace harassment occurs when a person directs negative, inappropriate, or unwanted conduct at a worker based on certain protected characteristics. They earn access to the same rights as a person named on your lease, making eviction less likely. existence of the order. Roommates as Co-Tenants A co-tenant arrangement occurs when all roommates have a contractual relationship with the landlord. If your roommate is on the lease agreement with you, then they only answer to your landlord. If your roommate is on the lease or other recognized elements of residency, such as utility bills in their name, or if they receive mail at this location, it gets far more complex. to law enforcement personnel all information required under subdivision (b) of Section 6380 of the Family Code regarding any order issued under this section, or a reissuance, extension, modification, I have had to remove several of my belongings because of the dog. Civil harassment restraining order (can be used for protection from neighbors, roommates, coworkers, or more distant family members like cousins, uncle or aunt, etc.). . Justice shall not, in and of itself, make the order unenforceable. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), upon. There are certain situations in which you must provide just cause, and in these cases, you are allowed to evict your roommate much more quickly because the eviction is considered a justified response to a roommate's bad behavior. a sanction of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). Kelly Klein is a Minneapolis attorney. January 30, 2015 - 3:17 PM. that, to the satisfaction of the court, shows reasonable proof of harassment of the One co-tenant cannot evict another co-tenant, no matter how despicable the behavior. If you do have a good reason to evict a roommate, you have to know how it works. Essentially, the landlord makes a contract with all of the roommates. However, if a roommate is not named on the lease, the named roommate may be held responsible for the full rent that is owed to the landlord. If your roommate has any issues with the eviction, they may try to discuss it with you. First, lets define a couple terms. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated in September 2019 that in the previous year, Americans spent more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on keeping a roof over their head. The only exception is if they pay rent to the landlord directly even though they're not on the leasein this scenario, they are considered your co-tenant. (2) Credible threat of violence is a knowing and willful statement or course of conduct that would place a reasonable in actions brought pursuant to this section is mandatory. If the subtenant has performed actions that meet the criteria for lawful eviction, the tenant may provide a three-day notice to address the reason for eviction, such as late rent. California may be unique for everything from its economy to its topography, but just as in every other state, the question of what to do if a roommate breaks a lease doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer in the Golden State. (3)(A) If the request is granted, except as provided in paragraph (4), information officers responding to the scene of reported harassment. From your description of the behavior, it sounds like your roommate is harassing you. If you are living in a rent-controlled apartment in some larger cities in California, local law demands that you provide just cause for any eviction. Can a landlord evict me and/or my house guest if the house guest isnt on the lease? She made up lies about my other roommate and her boyfriend and about her family and spread them and always told me these things. of requesting or opposing a request for a temporary restraining order or order after Our partner Rocket Lawyer has lawyers ready to answer your question WITHIN MINUTES for just $49.99 (Save $200+ vs hiring a lawyer). It may affect his or her immigration status if he or she is trying to get a green card or a visa. This might need you to know your legal rights as a roommate and intervention from law enforcement. to the Department of Justice in accordance with either paragraph (2) or (3). Civil harassment is when someone receives abuse, threats of abuse, or harassment by someone they have not dated and with whom they do not have a close family relationship. As long as the roommate provides the landlord with written notice of his intent to terminate the lease due to active service, the tenancy is considered terminated 30 days after the next rent due date. Guide to Laws about Homelessness in California. provided that the disclosure is necessary to prevent harassment or is in the minor's a temporary restraining order in accordance with Section 527, except to the extent this section provides an inconsistent rule. are sought and, if the petition is granted, the restrained person. Your roommate may file an answer with the court in an attempt to fight the eviction. It's a good idea to file a police report to have evidence of the behavior if the eviction goes to court. So the interesting fact will be whether or not your roommates pay the full rent to the landlord to prevent being evicted. If your roommate is threatening you, harassing you or hurting you, you can apply for an Order for Protection ("OFP") or a Harassment Order. A co-tenant can, however, evict a subtenant. Before you do any of these things, make sure that your situation allows you to kick them out, and get familiar with the basics of state eviction laws. Youll end up with a fine. (2) The court may order the information specified in paragraph (1) be kept confidential (s) The prevailing party in an action brought pursuant to this section may be awarded The person accused is not engaged in constitutionally protected activity. to civil harassment issued by a court pursuant to this section shall be transmitted Elder or Dependent Harassment. or receive, a firearm or ammunition while the protective order is in effect is punishable that could last up to five years. This document details the financial responsibilities of each tenant, as well as informing them about the terms, conditions, and rules associated with shared space. Your roommate would then be your "sub-tenant." If that is the case, you would need to go to court to evict them and show either that your roommate violated the terms of your "sublease" or that there was no specific time period for the tenancy and thus you can terminate it at any time. but not served, the officer shall immediately notify the respondent of the terms of If that address is not correct or you wish to verify that the temporary restraining Is it possible to sue the other tenant for my share of the rent for the remainder of the lease, given that the circumstances create an uninhabitable living environment? (2) If the court determines at the hearing that, after a diligent effort, the petitioner In this case, the long arm of the law isn't just long, it belongs to someone else, but the eviction process will proceed for the contenant just as it would for a regular, singular tenant. at the court's discretion, for a period not to exceed 21 days, or, if the court extends making harassing telephone calls to an individual, or sending harassing correspondence You cant evict them. the parties. A common example is when a property is sold and the landlord assigns the lease to the new owner. Can I Evict A Roommate During COVID In NYC? and that seeks a protective or restraining order restraining stalking, future violence, (n) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the respondent that if the of the petition and afforded an opportunity to object to the disclosure. In other words, roommates who initially occupied your rental unit as a subtenant may be catapulted to the status of a co-tenant by your acceptance of rent, even if they are not named in the lease. The master tenant retains all rights and obligations under the master lease, which includes, naturally, paying rent to the landlord. Heres what you need to know about resolving a situation with a hostile roommate. loft apartment image by Christopher Martin from, What to Do If a Roommate Breaks the Lease: California Tenant Law, Difference Between Leaseholders & Occupants, Lawyers.com: Roommates Your Rights and Liabilities, NOLO: Renting a House or Apartment With Roommates, Rent.com: 3 Instances Where Your Roommate Might Try to Sue You, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Expenditures 2018, Legal Beagle: How to Get Rid of a Roommate Legally, Legal Beagle: Rights for Roommates Not on a Lease, Legal Beagle: How to Get Off a Joint Lease, Legal Beagle: California Security Deposit Law: A Guide for Landlords & Tenants, Legal Beagle: California Sublet Laws: Rules for Tenants & Subtenants. Any eviction process must begin with a written notice according to the tenancy law in California. Landlords, property owners or property management companies may rightfully evict a cotenant renter for numerous reasons in California, such failure to pay rent on time or a violation of any of the provisions in the lease agreement. However, the fact that an order issued by a court pursuant to this section was not Consult an attorney regarding your particular issues. (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) Course of conduct is a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however The subtenant then has five days to vacate the premises or oppose the complaint by filing a response with the court. was made, to a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the residence of the You certainly cant just change the locks on the door. regarding the minor that was obtained in connection with a request for a protective (3) Alternatively, the court or its designee shall transmit, within one business day, respondent does not attend the hearing, the court may make orders against the respondent If the judge finds by clear and convincing evidence that unlawful harassment exists, Evicting a Tenant Just as the tenant has rights, so does the landlord, even in roommate situations. regarding the minor shall be maintained in a confidential case file and shall not The course of conduct must be that which would cause a reasonable person to suffer In California, whether or not you can evict your roommate is situational. . KELLY KLEIN The California roommate agreement ("room rental agreement") is a binding contract that co-tenants in a shared residential situation must sign. It is necessary to complete a room . Living with one or more roommates is often a necessity for some tenants, given the high rents of the Bay Area, but these arrangements can be vexing for landlords and property managers. (w) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding covered by Title 1.6C (ii) By a person to whom confidential information is disclosed, provided that the first-class mail sent to the respondent at the most current address for the respondent According to California law ( CA Civil Code 1940-1954.05 ), tenants have certain rights, including the right to a habitable dwelling or due process for evictions. The notice must specify how many days the tenant has until you will terminate the tenancy. Participation in this column does not create an attorney/client relationship with Klein. He or she will generally not be able to own a gun. For example, Sally is responsible for making the entire rent payment not just her half if Joe, her roommate, doesnt pay his share. (v), the notice shall identify the information, specifically, that has been made confidential If your roommate is on the lease with your landlord, then you will need to go to the landlord to discuss removing your roommate, and the landlord would need to handle the court eviction process. with a copy of the petition, temporary restraining order, if any, and notice of hearing petitioner. To evict your roommate in California, you need to start by giving them a three-day notice to cure or quit. However, some localities in California have their own distinct just cause laws, notably Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Glendale. the business day on which the order, reissuance, extension, modification, or termination the alleged harassment, or may file a cross-petition under this section. A subtenant is impotent and cannot evict anyone, while a landlord can evict all tenants from the premises, with caveats. He may evict them anyways for the party if that is a material breach of the lease or if they are damaging property. (g) Within 21 days, or, if good cause appears to the court, 25 days from the date or threats of violence, in an action brought pursuant to this section. The next step is to call the police and ask them to forcibly remove your roommate if they remain in your home more than 72 hours after receiving the eviction notice. (C) The court may authorize a disclosure of any portion of the confidential information The safest option would be for you to stop staying at your shared place from the time that you deliver a letter of notice until your roommate moves out. If you choose to use this method, collect as much evidence and documentation of the behavior as you can to present to the court. If a tenant is part of any of the U.S. uniformed services, which include the armed forces, activated National Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Public Health Service, the servicemember may terminate her tenancy if she is called to enter active military service.