The Tenant Protection Act, commonly known as AB 1482, created statewide limits on certain rent increases and requires just cause for many residential evictions. SB 567 later strengthened the rules and added new consequences for violations.
This page summarizes the key points from the California Department of Justice landlord and property manager guidance in a practical, owner-focused format.
Covered properties have annual rent increase limits under state law.
Covered tenancies generally require legally allowed reasons to terminate.
Owner move-in, remodel, withdrawal, and legal order terminations have strict rules.
SB 567 increased the risk for owners who violate the law.
The Tenant Protection Act places limits on annual rent increases and restricts the types of allowable evictions for many residential rental properties in California.
The law is commonly referred to as AB 1482. SB 567, effective April 1, 2024, amended the Tenant Protection Act to strengthen tenant protections and create new consequences for violations.
For rental owners, this means the decision to raise rent, terminate a tenancy, remove a tenant for owner move-in, perform a substantial remodel, or remove a property from the rental market should never be handled casually.
For covered properties, rent generally may not be increased more than 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10% total, whichever is lower, over a 12-month period.
The law uses a formula based on 5% plus the applicable change in cost of living.
Even if the formula would be higher, the total increase cannot exceed 10% in a 12-month period.
Cities and counties may have stricter rent control or tenant protection rules that must also be reviewed.
Do not assume a rent increase is legal just because it is below market value. The correct cap, timing, notice, local rules, and property exemption status all matter.
No. The Tenant Protection Act applies broadly, but not every property or tenancy is covered. Some properties may be exempt, and some exemptions require proper written notice to the tenant.
| Category | General Rule From the DOJ Guidance |
|---|---|
| Most residential landlords | Most residential landlords and property managers must comply with the Tenant Protection Act unless an exemption applies. |
| Tenancies under one year | The just-cause eviction requirements generally do not apply to tenants who have lived in the unit for less than one year. |
| Newer housing | Housing built within the last 15 years may be exempt, calculated on a rolling basis. |
| Affordable / restricted housing | Some deed-restricted, regulatory-restricted, or subsidized affordable housing may be exempt. |
| Owner-occupied two-unit property | A two-unit property within a single structure may be exempt where the owner lives in one unit during the entire tenancy. |
| Single-family homes / condos | Some single-family homes and condos may be exempt if they are not owned by certain corporate or institutional ownership types and the required written notice is provided to the tenant. |
This is a simplified owner summary. The complete exemption analysis depends on ownership structure, property type, tenant notice language, local rules, and current law.
Under the Tenant Protection Act, a tenant in a covered tenancy can generally only be evicted for legally recognized “just cause.”
Just cause includes both at-fault reasons and no-fault reasons. At-fault reasons usually involve something the tenant did or failed to do. No-fault reasons involve certain owner or property situations, not tenant misconduct.
This is where owners can get into trouble: the reason, notice, supporting facts, documentation, timing, relocation rules, and local ordinances all matter.
The DOJ guidance identifies four no-fault situations under the Tenant Protection Act. These are not casual reasons to remove a tenant. Each has requirements and should be documented carefully.
The owner is withdrawing the property from the rental market, such as going out of the rental business or using the building for a purpose other than rental housing.
The owner, spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents intend to move into the unit, subject to strict SB 567 requirements.
The owner is demolishing the unit or performing qualifying substantial remodel work that meets the legal requirements.
The unit must be vacated to comply with a law, court order, or government order, but an order to vacate does not automatically terminate the tenancy.
For no-fault terminations under the Tenant Protection Act, the owner generally must provide relocation assistance equal to one month of rent. Some cities and counties may require more.
SB 567 added stricter requirements for owner move-in terminations. According to the DOJ guidance, the owner or qualifying relative must move in within 90 days after the tenant leaves and must live in the unit as a primary residence for at least one year.
The owner or qualifying relative must move into the unit within 90 days after the tenant leaves.
The owner or qualifying relative must live in the unit as their primary residence for at least one year.
The notice must disclose who is moving in, the relationship to the owner, and the tenant’s right to request proof.
The DOJ guidance states that if the owner or relative does not move in within 90 days or does not occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year, the unit must be offered back to the tenant at the same rent and lease terms, and the tenant must be reimbursed reasonable moving expenses.
The DOJ guidance explains that substantial remodel may apply when renovations substantially modify or replace a structural, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical system and require permits, or when the work removes unsafe materials such as lead paint, mold, or asbestos.
The work must also require the tenant to be out of the unit for at least 30 consecutive days for the work to be safely completed.
Under SB 567, the notice must include important supporting details, including a description of the work, copies of required permits, the expected completion date, and notice that the tenant may have an opportunity to re-rent the unit if the work does not start or is not completed.
SB 567 created stronger consequences for violations. The DOJ guidance says state and local law enforcement agencies may bring enforcement actions, and housing providers who violate the rent cap or just-cause provisions may be liable for actual damages, attorney’s fees, and up to three times damages if the owner acted willfully or with oppression, fraud, or malice.
A tenant may be able to pursue damages related to a violation.
Violations may create attorney-fee exposure.
Willful conduct or conduct involving oppression, fraud, or malice can increase exposure.
A rent increase or termination notice that appears simple can become expensive if the property is covered, the notice is defective, the reason is unsupported, or local rules add additional requirements.
Pivot helps owners think through property management decisions before they become legal or financial problems. We are not a law firm, but we understand that rental management in California requires documentation, careful timing, communication, and compliance awareness.
We review the property type, lease status, occupancy, local issues, and management goals.
We focus on written records, tenant communication, move-in/out condition, and repair history.
We help owners avoid rushed rent increases, unsupported notices, and poorly documented decisions.
We help protect rental income, the property, and the owner from avoidable mistakes.
This page is general information based on publicly available guidance and is not legal advice. Owners should consult qualified legal counsel for legal advice about their specific property, tenant, city, lease, or notice issue.
AB 1482, SB 567, local rules, tenant notices, rent caps, and just-cause requirements can create serious risk for rental owners. Pivot helps owners manage property with better documentation, stronger systems, and a compliance-aware approach.
