In California, a landlord generally cannot evict a tenant for no reason. Under the Tenant Protection Act (Civ. Code § 1946.2), once a tenant has lived in a unit for 12 months, the landlord must provide a “just cause” to terminate the tenancy, even if the lease has expired.
“Just Cause” Requirements
Landlords must state a specific reason in the written notice, categorized as:
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At-Fault: Nonpayment of rent, material breach of lease terms, nuisance, or criminal activity.
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No-Fault: The owner or a family member moving in, intent to demolish or substantially remodel the unit, or withdrawing the unit from the rental market. For these reasons, the landlord must provide relocation assistance (typically one month’s rent).
When a Landlord CAN Evict Without a Reason
A landlord can only terminate a tenancy without a reason if the property is exempt from state “just cause” laws. Common exemptions include:
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New Construction: Housing built within the last 15 years (on a rolling basis).
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Specific Single-Family Homes: Condos or single-family homes not owned by a corporation or REIT, provided the tenant was given a specific written notice of exemption in the lease.
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Owner-Occupied Duplexes: Where the owner lived in one unit before the tenant moved into the other and remains in residence.
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Short-Term Residents: Tenants who have occupied the unit for less than 12 months.
The information for this answer was found on our California Eviction Process answers.