{"id":826,"date":"2026-03-11T17:51:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/future.tenantstogether.org\/?page_id=826"},"modified":"2026-06-17T20:15:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:15:20","slug":"housing-conditions-and-repairs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/resources-for-tenants\/know-your-rights\/housing-conditions-and-repairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Housing Conditions and Repairs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-784358f6 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container content-spacing uagb-block-62560bd8\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a \u201chabitable\u201d home?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A safe and sanitary place to live!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meets building code AND provides \u201cbare living requirements\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A place is NOT habitable if it has substantial problems with:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Damp\/leaking ceiling\/walls<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leaking plumbing\/drainage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holes in walls\/floor\/carpet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presence of visible mold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rats\/roaches\/insects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Falling plaster\/peeling paint<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Defective electrical wiring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of\/inadequate heat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Missing\/broken windows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of\/inadequate hot water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Missing\/broken smoke detectors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inadequate trash collection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unsafe stairs\/railing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inadequate security\/locks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broken stove\/ refrigerator<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ALL tenants in California have the right to a safe and sanitary home, including repairs!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should I do if my home is NOT habitable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If it is not habitable when you move in, the landlord must make all<br>repairs as long as they are charging you rent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it becomes not habitable after moving in, ask your landlord to<br>make repairs in WRITING using this letter <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/repairs-request\">Repair Request Sample Letter<\/a><br>and send it through certified mail. Keep a copy for yourself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take pictures of all the problems and save them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call the local code enforcement agency to inspect your home.<br>The inspector will send your landlord a written report of<br>sub-standard living conditions found in your unit. You must allow<br>your landlord or their repair person access to the unit to fix<br>existing problems. If the landlord fails to make repairs within 35<br>days of reporting, you can take the landlord to small claims court.<br>*NOTE: In some counties, code enforcement may be maintained through<br>other agencies, such as law enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>My landlord is refusing to do repairs. Now what?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Small claims lawsuit &#8211; do the repairs yourself and take your<br>landlord to small claims court for the costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repair and deduct &#8211; you can repair certain conditions yourself<br>and deduct the cost from your rent. The law requires specific<br>documentation, so we recommend you seek legal aid in the case<br>that you receive an eviction notice!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rent withholding (individually or collectively) &#8211; should be used<br>as a last resort because the landlord may try to evict you! You<br>should not withhold rent until you talk to a lawyer! This is most<br>successful if you can get all tenants in the building to participate.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can my landlord evict me if I ask for repairs? What if they get upset?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you assert your rights to habitable housing to the landlord, and<br>a landlord threatens to evict you, increase your rent, or take<br>negative action against you within 180 days of having done so,<br>the landlord is presumed to be engaging in retaliation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Retaliation is ALWAYS prohibited!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respond to your landlord with this <a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/sample-letter\/retaliation\/\" data-type=\"sample-letter\" data-id=\"2712\">Retaliation Sample Letter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your landlord continues pressuring you to leave, learn more<br>about your rights against eviction at bit.ly\/tt-evictions-pdf. The<br>only person that can remove you from your home is the sheriff!<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get organized!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tenants Together is aware that these protections are NOT<br>enough! Talk to your neighbors about their protections!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are not alone. We\u2019re stronger together! Learn <a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/how-to-start-a-tenants-union\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"590\">How to Start a Tenants Union<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More resources available in the <a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/resources-for-tenants\/know-your-rights\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"301\">Know Your Rights<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-fddc05bc alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container less-space uagb-block-86c666a3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-1fd3b203\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Sample Letters<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To assert your rights to landlord or master tenant, tailor these sample letters to your situation:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-post-grid uagb-post-grid  uagb-post__image-position-top uagb-post__image-disabled uagb-block-14d53a37     uagb-post__items uagb-post__columns-3 is-grid uagb-post__columns-tablet-2 uagb-post__columns-mobile-1 uagb-post__equal-height\" data-total=\"1\" style=\"\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"uagb-post__inner-wrap\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-post__title uagb-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/sample-letter\/leaving-before-lease-is-up-due-to-uninhabitable-conditions\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Leaving Before Lease is Up Due to Uninhabitable Conditions<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-post__text uagb-post-grid-byline'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"uagb-post__inner-wrap\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-post__title uagb-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/sample-letter\/opting-out-of-third-party-internet-subscription-offered-by-your-landlord\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Opting Out of Third Party Internet Subscription Offered By Your Landlord<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-post__text uagb-post-grid-byline'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"uagb-post__inner-wrap\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-post__title uagb-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/sample-letter\/relocation-benefits\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Relocation Benefits<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-post__text uagb-post-grid-byline'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"uagb-post__inner-wrap\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-post__title uagb-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/sample-letter\/repair-request\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Repair Request<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-post__text uagb-post-grid-byline'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-952f77f1 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container less-space uagb-block-b0ded7b2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-d50b5cae\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Resources<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about your protections and review these additional resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/resources-for-tenants\/know-your-rights\/eviction-protections\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"336\">Eviction Protections<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/resources-for-tenants\/know-your-rights\/rent-increases-and-rent-control\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"456\">Rent Increases and Rent Control<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/resources-for-tenants\/know-your-rights\/breaking-a-lease\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"517\">Breaking a Lease<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-post-grid uagb-post-grid  uagb-post__image-position-top uagb-post__image-disabled uagb-block-46b5eb47     uagb-post__items uagb-post__columns-3 is-grid uagb-post__columns-tablet-2 uagb-post__columns-mobile-1 uagb-post__equal-height\" data-total=\"1\" style=\"\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"uagb-post__inner-wrap\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-post__title uagb-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/resource\/know-your-rights-housing-conditions-and-repairs\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Know Your Rights &#8211; Housing Conditions and Repairs<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-post__text uagb-post-grid-byline'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container less-space uagb-block-931b129f\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-b337edc2\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">External Resources<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/media\/Know-Your-Rights-Habitability-English.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Attorney&nbsp;General Resource&nbsp;Habitability<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UkM13Xck8oI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What to&nbsp;do&nbsp;When Facing Habitability Issues in CA Rentals<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tenantlawgroupsf.com\/blog\/2025\/august\/habitability-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What&nbsp;are Tenant Rights Habitability Issues<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/california-tenant-rights-withhold-rent-repair-deduct.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CA Tenants Right to Repair &amp; Deduct<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/835291984?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Introduction to Pest Infestation &amp; Secondhand Smoke<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/839820450?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Introduction to Mold &amp; Lead-Based Paint<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/841698992?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Introduction to Ventilation \/ Air Filtration and Tenant Rights<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1013554819?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pest Prevention Using Integrated Pest Management<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.disabilityrightsca.org\/publications\/housing-frequently-asked-questions#9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Temporary Relocation for Repairs<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.disabilityrightsca.org\/publications\/housing-frequently-asked-questions#10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Withholding Rent<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-e56501a4 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do I do if my landlord is not making repairs? What requirements does landlord have to maintaining a safe and healthy home?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":301,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"know-your-rights":[21],"class_list":["post-826","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","know-your-rights-know-your-rights"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"giantrabbit","author_link":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/author\/giantrabbit\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"What do I do if my landlord is not making repairs? What requirements does landlord have to maintaining a safe and healthy home?","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=826"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2887,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/826\/revisions\/2887"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"know-your-rights","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenantstogether.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/know-your-rights?post=826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}