(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. So landlords can evict roommates, but roommates beholden to the same lease can't evict each other. 7 Easy Ways to Make or Save Money by Exercising Your Legal Rights. than five additional years, without a showing of any further harassment since the Among those reasons, abuse is paramount. circumstances: (i) By the minor's legal guardian who petitioned to keep the information confidential This order will require your roommate to leave the apartment immediately. As per most roommate harassment laws, putting your request in writing creates a paper trail for if and when you go to court. Domestic violence victims may circumvent regular relocation requirements if they have otherwise complied with other Section 8 requirements, have moved in order to protect someone who is or has been a domestic violence victim, and reasonably believed that they were imminently threatened by harm from further violence. One good way to evict your roommate is to start writing a letter, asking your roommate to leave. The person accused is not engaged in constitutionally protected activity. In San Francisco, landlords are prohibited . Sally would have two choices if Joes behavior deteriorated to the point where it became intolerable. Perhaps if you reason with your roommate that its not working out (or beg them to leave), they may leave quietly and that could be the end of it. With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match! Current as of January 01, 2019 | Updated by FindLaw Staff. (2) A temporary restraining order or order after hearing relating to civil harassment issuance of the original order, subject to termination or modification by further if the court expressly finds all of the following: (A) The minor's right to privacy overcomes the right of public access to the information. 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. If you're paying rent then you should notify the owner in writing about this disruption. The violence or threats seriously scare, annoy, or harass someone and there is no valid reason for it. motion to modify or terminate the order without prejudice or continue the hearing How Do I Evict Someone When There Is No Lease? 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. (C) The court may authorize a disclosure of any portion of the confidential information You can get an OFP to stop harassment or abuse by anyone you live with, not just relatives or spouses. make an independent inquiry. 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. Typically, each roommate signs the lease agreement individually, making them cotenants of a single unit. The request may be made in writing before or at the hearing, or orally at the hearing. However, if your life is in danger, go right ahead and evict that roommate. hearing, or both, under this section as provided in Section 374. California law lets you terminate your lease without penalties if youor someone you live withis being subjected to domestic violence by a current or former spouse, partner, or roommate. A roommates right to sue a subtenant can depend on whether an agreement is in place between them and, if so, whether its in writing. 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. 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. and to allow the respondent to comply with and respond to the protective order. Can I Evict A Roommate During COVID In NYC? Read about the law in Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6. been served personally with the order but has received actual notice of the existence Related: Can I Evict A Roommate During COVID In NYC? Unfortunately its not an easy answer. 3. Calmly explain why youre upset might also help. 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. That's true even if you have a separate sublease agreement with your roommate, who's subletting from you. This is a guide to the basics of the rules for roommates and houseguests in a rental unit. Rental Agreements in California: Key Terms to Look For, Just Cause Eviction: California Landlord Rights, California Sublet Laws: Rules for Tenants & Subtenants, California Legislative Information: Civil Code Sections 1940 - 1954.05 Hiring of Real Property, California Legislative Information: Health and Safety Code Sections 17920 - 17928 Rules and Regulations, Law Offices of Stimmel, Stimmel and Roeser: Landlord Obligations for Habitable Premises The Basic California Law, Lawyers.com: Roommates: Your Rights and Liabilities, A People's Choice: How to Evict a Roommate in California, Curbed Los Angeles: Here's How California's Rent Control Law Works, Legal Beagle: California Sublet Laws: Rules for Tenants & Subtenants, Legal Beagle: Rental Agreements in California: Key Terms to Look For, Legal Beagle: Just Cause Eviction: California Landlord Rights, Legal Beagle: Breaking a Lease in California: Tenants' Rights, Legal Beagle: Landlord Right of Entry: California Tenant Privacy Rights, Legal Beagle: California Landlord Responsibilities for Tenant Safety. A co-tenant can, however, evict a subtenant. If theres a reason for the eviction, you must also specify this in the notice. Those can include the employee's race, disability, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, or pregnancy, among other reasons. 1 (p)(1) Either party may request a continuance of the hearing, which the court shall She made up lies about my other roommate and her boyfriend and about her family and spread them and always told me these things. protected party, the party who is protected by the order shall be given notice, pursuant 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. (t) Willful disobedience of a temporary restraining order or order after hearing granted 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 . 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? neighbors, roommates, and; non-dating friends. 0 found this answer helpful | 1 lawyer agrees. (h) The respondent may file a response that explains, excuses, justifies, or denies Certain cities require just cause be provided to month-to-month tenants if they are living in a rent-controlled or subsidized housing program. with a duration of three years from the date of issuance. The subletting tenant may file eviction proceedings against the subtenant but must provide a minimum of 30 days' notice for subtenants on a month-to-month lease. If you failed to serve notice correctly, the case can be thrown out, and you will have to start over from the beginning. the parties. Justice shall not, in and of itself, make the order unenforceable. Under California law, you have the right to protection against harassment or bullying by your employer if the harassment is based on: race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, or sexual . The restraining order will include a residence exclusion order, requiring your roommate to move out as soon as it takes effect. States typically require that the tenant provide proof (such as a protective order) of her status as a domestic violence victim. for the purpose of enforcing the order. that is generally reserved for the party and the party's attorney. 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. Even when your roommate's name is not on the lease, California law treats them as if they were a month-to-month tenant. A conviction can be a petty offense or a misdemeanor.. In order to benefit from extended protection to victims of domestic violence, check with local law enforcement or a womens shelter regarding state laws applicable to your situation. order, or if it is in the best interest of the minor. (2) The court shall order the petitioner or the attorney for the petitioner to deliver of the order. California's civil harassmentlaw, California Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6 CCP, has its own legal definition of harassment. regarding the minor that was obtained in connection with a request for a protective Whos in My House? that has been made confidential and shall include a statement that disclosure is punishable (n) A notice of hearing under this section shall notify the respondent that if the Abuse of an elder or a dependent adult is abuse of: The law says elder or dependent adult abuse is: Read about the law in Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.07. Taking on a roommate or two and dividing the cost can save the day, but not all roommate relationships are made in heaven. for the order to be filed that day with the clerk of the court. Written notice must always state that the tenant has a certain number of days until the tenancy will be terminated. Speaking of the premises, Section 1942 of the state's Civil Code allows roommates and other tenants to break the lease agreement if they experience inhabitable or unlivable conditions in the rental space. I moved back home with my family because I don't feel safe living in the apartment. Remember: Any agreements should be written down and signed by both parties. Remember that eviction can never be performed for a reason that is retaliatory or discriminatory. to that minor, be kept confidential. But other times they are not. the parties to the proceeding. (2) If the respondent named in a temporary restraining order is personally served stalking, as prohibited by Section 646.9 of the Penal Code. Consequences can wait. Neither Sally nor Joe has any individual rights that the other doesn't share, but a landlord typically isnt barred from entering into a new lease with one of them who's an innocent party to let him or her stay. at the court's discretion, for a period not to exceed 21 days, or, if the court extends First, read your Lease/Rental Agreement (see above) to determine what it says on this; usually what an agreement says on this is enforceable and if you violate it, yes you and your houseguest(s) can be evicted. But when things go wrong, it can feel like hell. It may affect his or her immigration status if he or she is trying to get a green card or a visa. I realize that one or both of the parties who sign the lease are responsible for paying the landlord. a sanction of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). 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. If your roommate is threatening you, harassing you or hurting you, you can apply for an Order for Protection ("OFP") or a Harassment Order. From your description of the behavior, it sounds like your roommate is harassing you. Restraining Orders. at the hearing, either personally or by an attorney, and the terms and conditions If that wont work, then maybe you can find a third party whom both you and your roommate trust to mediate an acceptable resolution for both parties. (4) If information about a minor has been made confidential pursuant to subdivision In the latter scenario, the two parties present their cases to the court and a judge issues a final ruling on the matter. It's essential that you serve notice exactly how the law demands. order before the expiration date specified in the order by a party other than the It encompasses the transfer of rights held by one party the assignor to another party the assignee. Typically, only a landlord can file an eviction case, so you can request that your landlord file an eviction naming only your roommate, and not you, but this can be risky. (5) An order issued under this section shall, on request of the petitioner, be served If you don't follow the law when serving your roommate with notice, your eviction case can be dismissed by a judge and you'll have to start the whole process over. When someone is being abused or harassed, he or she needs to decide on the best way to get legal protection from the abuse or harassment. Read More: How to Get Rid of a Roommate Legally. agency authorized by the Department of Justice to enter orders into the California (q)(1) If a respondent named in a restraining order issued after a hearing has not . A subtenant is someone who moves in after a lease has been entered into by other tenants and who isnt added to the existing lease or to a new lease with the landlord. First, get out or immediately start making arrangements to leave. of confidential information has been made without a court order, the court may impose Civil harassment restraining order (can be used for protection from neighbors, roommates, coworkers, or more distant family members like cousins, uncle or aunt, etc.). to an individual by any means, including, but not limited to, the use of public or An OFP doesn't require an attorney and does not cost. under subdivision (b), or if it is in the best interest of the minor. The course of conduct must be that which would cause a reasonable person to suffer (i) At the hearing, the judge shall receive any testimony that is relevant, and may This section does not preclude a petitioner from using other existing civil remedies. (4) Petitioner means the person to be protected by the temporary restraining order and order after making harassing telephone calls to an individual, or sending harassing correspondence Any eviction process must begin with a written notice according to the tenancy law in California. Before you can start a court case to make your roommate leave, you may need to give (serve) your roommate a Notice of Termination. Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of course encumbering, concealing, molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or party during the proceedings if the person who alleges the person is a victim of violence If you are not on the lease and your roommate ismaybe youre the one subletting, for instanceyou dont have many options. that a petition for a temporary order is granted or denied, a hearing shall be held 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. respondent does not attend the hearing, the court may make orders against the respondent Abuse can be verbal (spoken), emotional, or psychological. short, evidencing a continuity of purpose, including following or stalking an individual, So the interesting fact will be whether or not your roommates pay the full rent to the landlord to prevent being evicted. Follow the same eviction procedure as a landlord performing a typical eviction, you are able to give only three days notice, Violating the rental agreement in any other way, Committing any act of violence against other tenants of the property, Using the property for dogfighting or cockfighting. available to the court. the business day on which the order, reissuance, extension, modification, or termination According to New York state law, you must give your roommate at least 30 days to vacate. If they are adamant to stay, file for an unlawful detainer lawsuit in court. officers responding to the scene of reported harassment. The difference is that the harassment happens primarily at work AND it is the employer of the harassed employee who asks for protection for the employee (and, if necessary, for the employees family). 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. He or she will generally not be able to own a gun. The information posted must be likely to incite or produce unlawful . the alleged harassment, or may file a cross-petition under this section. If that address is not correct or you wish to verify that the temporary restraining While there are a host of roommate harassment laws that you could prepare yourself with, there is also other know-how that could help you. (2) The Judicial Council shall prepare and develop forms for persons who wish to avail Elder or Dependent Harassment. Under 653.2, it is a misdemeanor to electronically post certain types of information about an individual on the internet. (B) Confidential information may be disclosed without a court order only in the following and that seeks a protective or restraining order restraining stalking, future violence, If you are the only one on the lease, you can probably evict your roommate. If they need to stay longer, they can file a stay of execution with the court to request more time, but they must pay rent for any extra days they are allowed to stay by the court. The next step one must take is to file an eviction lawsuit with the New York City housing court in order to start an official eviction proceeding. I have had to remove several of my belongings because of the dog. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law. NOTE: If your roommate is threatening you with violence or otherwise doing dangerous illegal activities, call the police. pursuant to this subdivision or the protected party in an order pursuant to this division, (w) This section does not apply to any action or proceeding covered by Title 1.6C In general, civil harassment is abuse, threats of abuse, stalking, sexual assault, or serious harassment by someone you have not dated and do NOT have a close family relationship with, like a neighbor, a roommate, or a friend (that you have never dated). Only a landlord has that legal right. It can be complicated so be sure to speak to a lawyer for your situation. For this to be the case, the rental unit must be generally unsafe or violate the regulations set out for rental properties in the California Health and Safety Code, such as a lack of basic utilities, heating, lighting or locks. as a contempt of court. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. of the petition and afforded an opportunity to object to the disclosure. The support person is present to provide moral and emotional support for a person Answers: In similar fashion, a tenant might assign his or her lease to a new tenant or occupant, which then begins the game of musical chairs and creates a quagmire where the rental property owner does not know who is living in their units. I am not getting along with the person. issued on forms adopted by the Judicial Council and approved by the Department of It is necessary to complete a room . (v)(1) A minor or the minor's legal guardian may petition the court to have information good cause, specify another method for service of process that is reasonably designed Since state law requires your rental place to be fit for the intended use, and you can no longer have personal belongings lying around because of the dog, then your place is no longer fit for you to live there. I have tried everything with my roommate but she keeps refusing. If the employee wants to protect him or herself, he or she can ask for a civil harassment restraining order (or a domestic violence restraining order if the abuser is a partner/spouse or former partner/spouse or close family member). Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. 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. With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, Roomi can help find your perfect new roommate. Often, abuse takes many forms, and abusers use a combination of tactics to control and have power over the person being abused. You need to contact your landlord, apprise him or her of your living situation and request to terminate your lease early. (y) There is no filing fee for a petition that alleges that a person has inflicted