Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

I'm renting a room from a home owner & she recently rented the room next to mine to a man who presented himself as a 10-14 hour restaurant worker who loved to read.

A week after he moved in myself & the home owner discovered that he doesn't work, smokes marijuana all day & takes pills. He also arrived with 2 dogs, not one, & a cat.

Since his arrival he has been extremely loud, playing loud music daily & dancing in the street, selling his marijuana ,which he gets from a S.F. pot club, to our nieghbors......He has been eating everyone in the households food , therefore I had to by a frig for my room &&&& he invited a homeless guy into our house & the guy stole some items from the owner of the house.

I've reported the theft & today called the police because this roommate was drunk hanging out the 2nd

story window smoking pott.

The owner of the house that I rent from says this tennant hasn't broken any rules & she cant kick him out??......she is very passive...After everything that has gone on I dont even want to pay her rent & I'm currently looking for a place to live but Ive lived here for 4yrs.

Can u tell me my rights????......After all he has caused can he be evicted???....Our month to month rental agreement states no smoking in the house & she knows he has been smoking both cigarettes & pott in his room. I have a lung decease and she keeps telling me ""can we just keep the peace"" .

Can I refuse her rent because he has been in violation of the rent agreement & she isnt doing anything about it???


Asked on 3/30/11, 9:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

David Gibbs The Gibbs Law Firm, APC

First, you cannot stop paying rent. You do have a right to quiet enjoyment of your rental (the room), and if the landlord has breached that covenant that is implied in all rentals, then you have the right to terminate your rental agreement and move. Alternatively, if you want to be more aggressive you can demand that the landlord evict the other tenant or get him under control. All that being said, a lot of what you talk about is really lifestyle issues, and may not reach the level of nuisance or breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment. We're dealing exclusively with State law issues and if he has a medicinal marijuana card, then the use of that is not illegal, and therefore probably not a vilation of your rights. Certainly with all of the issues you discussed above, it might rise to that level, but much of what you discuss really affects the landlord and not you.

The problem, however, is that you will almost certainly have to file suit to force her to evict him, which puts you very cross-wise with the landlord. Your situation is one that may have some legal remedies, but practically speaking it is going to end poorly no matter what you do. Tell the landlord that she has a legal obligation to preserve your right to quiet enjoyment of the rental, and that if she does not you will sue her or move out. You can consult with a tenant's right attorney, but you may find that the cost to enforce your rights may be more than you want to spend, and moving may be the easiest and least-expensive option. Also, keep calling the police about the sale of marijuana - that is clearly illegal, but only the people who can deal with illegal activity properly are the police.

*Due to the limitations of the LawGuru Forums, The Gibbs Law Firm, APC's (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided is general and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence. As required by 11 U.S.C. �528, we must now disclose that, "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code. Assistance we provide with respect to Debt Relief may involve bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code."

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Answered on 3/31/11, 11:46 am


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