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Legal Statutes: California

UPDATED October 22, 2012

California Statutes


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Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property

back to top1946.7. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; written notice to terminate tenancy; requirements of notice

(a) A tenant may notify the landlord that he or she or a household member was a victim of an act that constitutes an act of domestic violence as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, sexual assault as defined in Sections 261, 261.5, 262, 286, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code, or stalking as defined in Section 1708.7, and that the tenant intends to terminate the tenancy.

(b) A notice to terminate a tenancy under this section shall be in writing, with one of the following attached to the notice:

(1) A copy of a temporary restraining order or emergency protective order lawfully issued pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 6240) or Part 4 (commencing with Section 6300) of Division 10 of the Family Code, Section 136.2 of the Penal Code, Section 527.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or Section 213.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code that protects the tenant or household member from further domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(2) A copy of a written report by a peace officer employed by a state or local law enforcement agency acting in his or her official capacity, stating that the tenant or household member has filed a report alleging that he or she or the household member is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(c) The notice to terminate the tenancy shall be given within 180 days of the date that any order described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) was issued, within 180 days of the date that any written report described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) was made, or within the time period described in Section 1946.

(d) If notice to terminate the tenancy is provided to the landlord under this section, the tenant shall be responsible for payment of rent for 30 days following the giving of the notice, or within the appropriate period as described in Section 1946, and thereafter shall be released from any rent payment obligation under the rental agreement without penalty. Existing law governing the security deposit shall apply.

(e) If within the 30 days following the giving of the notice under this section the tenant quits the premises and the premises are rented to another party, the rent due on the premises for that 30-day period shall be prorated. Existing law governing the security deposit shall apply.

(f) Nothing in this section relieves a tenant, other than the tenant who is, or who has a household member who is, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and members of that tenant's household, from their obligations under the rental agreement.

(g) “Household member” as used in this section means a member of the tenant's family who lives in the same household as the tenant.

(Added by Stats.2008, c. 440 (A.B.2052), § 1, eff. Sept. 27, 2008. Amended by Stats.2011, c. 76 (A.B.588), § 1.)