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Landlord-Tenant


Self-Help Videos on eviction from the California courts:

Resolving Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Cases (English, Russian, Spanish)

Leases & Rental Agreements
Rent & Security Deposits
Evictions
Housing Discrimination / Tenants' Rights
For Tenants
For Landlords
In-Depth Information
Other Sources Of Information
Legal Referral

You can find additional materials on landlord-tenant law by browsing the library shelves near the listed books or by searching the library catalog.
LEASES & RENTAL AGREEMENTS

Books:

The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities KFC 145 .Z9 B762
California Real Estate Property Management KFC145 .C367
California Tenants' Rights KFC 145 .Z9 M65
The Complete California Landlord's Kit KFC145 .Z9 T346
Essential Guide To Real Estate Leases KF 590 .Z9 W368
The Landlord's Legal Guide In California KFC 145 .Z9 T35 (Self Help)
Leases & Rental Agreements KF 590 .Z9 S744
Tenants' Rights in California KFC145.Z9 T35

Websites:

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento – Fair Housing Handbook
http://www.hrfh.org/   

California Department of Consumer Affairs – Before You Agree to Rent
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/before-rent.shtml

Forms:
In addition to the books listed above, sample leases and rental agreements can be found in:

California Landlord-Tenant Practice KFC 145 .C36
California Real Estate Forms KFC 140 .M53
California Real Estate: Law and Practice KFC 140 .B45

RENT & SECURITY DEPOSITS

Books:

The California Landlord's Law Book: Evictions   KFC 145 .Z9 B76
The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities KFC 145 .Z9 B762
California Real Estate Property Management KFC145 .C367
California Tenants' Rights KFC 145 .Z9 M65
The Complete California Landlord's Kit KFC145 .Z9 T346
Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California KFC 976 .Z9 W37
The Landlord's Legal Guide In California KFC 145 .Z9 T35 (Self Help)
Tenants' Rights in California KFC145.Z9 T35

Websites:

California Courts Self-Help website – Security Deposits
http://courts.ca.gov/1012.htm 

California Department of Consumer Affairs – Refunds of Security Deposits
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/sec-deposit.shtml  

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento – Fair Housing Handbook
http://www.hrfh.org/ 

EVICTIONS

Books:

California Eviction Defense Manual KFC 145 .E9 M68
California Judges Benchguide - Landlord-Tenant Litigation: Unlawful Detainer KFC 970 .C341
The California Landlord's Law Book: Evictions   KFC 145 .Z9 B76
The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities KFC 145 .Z9 B762
California Tenants' Rights KFC 145 .Z9 M65
Handling Unlawful Detainers KFC 145 .Z9 G87
The Landlord's Legal Guide in California KFC 145 .Z9 T35 (Self Help)
Tenants' Rights in California KFC145.Z9 T35
Unlawful Detainer Procedures Manual KFC 145 .U45

Websites:

California Courts – Landlord/Tenant
http://courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-smallclaims.htm  

California Department of Consumer Affairs – The Eviction Process
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/evictions.shtml

Forms:
The Judicial Council has created standardized "fill in the blanks" forms for Unlawful Detainer actions. The forms are available:

  • Free from the Court Clerk's office
  • To photocopy at the Law Library
  • Online:

Sacramento County has additional forms for Unlawful Detainers. These forms are available:

For samples of filled-out Judicial Council forms, try some of the books listed above.

Community resources:

Unlawful Detainer Advisory Clinic 
Carol Miller Justice Center, 301 Bicentennial Circle, Room 330
Monday – Friday 8:00 am -12:00 pm & 1 pm – 4:00 pm
Services provided: Assists both landlords and tenants in filling out answers and complaints, preparing cases for trial, filing post judgment motions etc.
Eligibility: First come- first served, walk-in only.

Tenant/Landlord Hotline
http://www.hrfh.org   
444-0178  
8:00am-5:00pm
Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission
Services provided: Provides information on Landlord/Tenant law and related issues.

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION / TENANTS' RIGHTS

Books:

California Civil Practice: Civil Rights Litigation KFC 695 .A65 C35
The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities KFC 145 .Z9 B762
California Tenants' Rights KFC 145 .Z9 M65
Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California KFC 976 .Z9 W37
Housing Discrimination: Law and Litigation KF 5740 .S39
Housing Discrimination Practice Manual KF 5740 .A5 R45
Tenants' Rights in California KFC145.Z9 T35

Websites:

Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Housing Discrimination publications. http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Publications_Publications.htm  

Legal Services of Northern California: Fair Housing
http://www.lsnc.net 

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento – Fair Housing Handbook
http://www.hrfh.org/  

Unlawful Discrimination: Your Rights and Remedies, Civil Rights Handbook
http://caag.state.ca.us/civilrights/pdf/01cr_handbook.pdf

Community resources:

Legal Services of Northern California: Fair Housing
http://www.lsnc.net
551-2150
Services provided: Offers advice and assistance with Fair housing and Fair lending questions.

Department of Fair Employment and Housing
http://www.dfeh.ca.gov
800-233-3212
Services provided: Investigates and provides conciliation services in cases of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

FOR TENANTS

Books:

California Tenants' Rights KFC 145 .Z9 M65
Tenants' Rights in California KFC145.Z9 T35

Websites:

California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenant and Landlord Rights and Responsibilities
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml  

How to Get Back Possessions You Have Left in a Rental Unit
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/lt-4.shtml 

Sacramento County Superior Courts - Tenant Information
http://www.saccourt.ca.gov/ud/tenant.aspx  

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento – Fair Housing Handbook
http://www.hrfh.org/ 

FOR LANDLORDS
Although the following resources are intended for landlords, tenants may benefit from the information found in these materials.

Books:

The Accidental Landlord KF590 .B33 2008 (Self Help)
The California Landlord's Law Book: Evictions   KFC 145 .Z9 B76
The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities KFC 145 .Z9 B762
California Real Estate Property Management KFC145 .C367
First-Time Landlord: Your Guide to Renting Out a Single-Family Home KF590.Z9 P671 (Self Help)
The Landlord's Legal Guide in California KFC 145 .Z9 T35 (Self Help)

Websites:

Options for a Landlord: When a Tenant's Personal Property Has Been Left in the Rental Unit
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/lt-5.shtml 

Rental Housing Association
http://www.rha.org/ 

Sacramento County Superior Courts - Landlord Information
http://www.saccourt.ca.gov/ud/landlord.aspx 

Using Consumer Reports: What Landlords Need to Know
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/credit/bus49.shtm 

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento – Fair Housing Handbook
http://www.hrfh.org/ 


IN-DEPTH INFORMATION
If you do not find what you need in the resources listed above, you may want to try some of these more in-depth practice guides. Each covers a range of landlord-tenant matters, and provides detailed procedural information, explanations, and samples of Judicial Council forms and other documents

California Civil Practice: Real Property Litigation KFC 140 .Z9 C34
California Forms of Pleading and PracticeKFC 1010 .A65 C3 
California Landlord-Tenant Litigation KFC 145 .C35 M38
California Landlord-Tenant Practice KFC 145 .C36
California Practice Guide: Landlord-Tenant KFC 145 .F74
California Real Estate Forms KFC 140 .M53
California Real Estate: Law and Practice KFC 140 .B45
Miller & Starr California Real Estate KFC 140 .M51 

 

 

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
These materials are good resources for background information on landlord-tenant matters, but are not specific to California. Be sure to check other resources to verify the information found in these books, and to find the relevant California laws and procedures.

Every Landlord's Guide to Finding Great Tenants KF590.Z9 P66
Every Landlord's Legal Guide KF 590 .Z9 S74
Every Tenant's Legal Guide KF 590 .Z9 P67
Renters' Rights: The Basics   KF 590 .Z9 P673

 

 

LEGAL REFERRAL

Unlawful Detainer Advisory Clinic 
Carol Miller Justice Center, 301 Bicentennial Circle, Room 330
Monday – Friday 8:00 am -12:00 pm & 1 pm – 4:00 pm
Services provided: Assists both landlords and tenants in filling out answers and complaints, preparing cases for trial, filing post judgment motions etc.
Eligibility: First come- first served, walk-in only.

Tenant/Landlord Hotline  
http://www.hrfh.org
444-0178  
9:00am-4:00pm
Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission
Services provided: Provides information on Landlord/Tenant law and related issues.

Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission of Sacramento
http://www.hrfh.org
444-6903
Investigates and mediates or litigates complaints of housing discrimination

Legal Services of Northern California: Fair Housing
http://www.lsnc.net
551-2150
Services provided: Offers advice and assistance with Fair housing and Fair lending questions.

Department of Fair Employment and Housing
http://www.dfeh.ca.gov
800-233-3212
Services provided: Investigates and provides conciliation services in cases of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

 

 

updated 09/10mpj