California Civil Code prohibits landlord harassment intended to force tenants to vacate, with remedies including statutory penalties and injunctive relief that apply fully to Riverside rental units regardless of local rent-control status.
Civil Code section 1940.2 makes it unlawful for landlords to use force, threats, or repeated unwanted contact to influence a tenant to vacate. Harassment includes shutting off utilities, removing doors or windows, repeatedly entering without proper notice, threatening immigration consequences, or filing baseless eviction notices. Even without local rent control, Riverside tenants can pursue statutory damages up to $2,000 per violation plus attorney fees in addition to common-law claims. Documentation matters: tenants should keep dated logs, photos, recordings where lawful, and copies of communications.
Engaging in utility shutoffs, lock changes, or repeated baseless notices to drive tenants out exposes landlords to per-violation statutory damages, injunctions, and attorney-fee awards.
Riverside, CA
Riverside tenants with habitability or code complaints can file through Engage Riverside 311 (app or 951-826-5311), Code Enforcement online portal, or in per...
Riverside, CA
Under California's AB 1482, landlords in Riverside must have just cause to evict tenants who have occupied the unit for 12 months or more. At-fault causes in...
See how Riverside's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
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