Tenant Rights In Silicon Valley

California state law, including the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), which limits annual rent increases to 5% plus local inflation (or 10% total, whichever is lower) and requires “just cause” for evictions after 12 months. Project Sentinel provides local mediation and fair housing services to address disputes and discrimination.

What is “just cause”?

After 12 months of continuous and lawful occupancy by all tenants, or 24 months by at least one tenant, the landlord must state a statutory reason in the notice.

The statute splits those reasons into at-fault grounds and no-fault grounds. 

At-fault grounds include nonpayment of rent, material lease breaches, nuisance, waste, certain criminal activity, unlawful subletting, refusal of lawful entry, unlawful use, and a few other listed situations. 

No-fault grounds include owner/family move-in, withdrawal from the rental market, compliance with a government/court order or local ordinance requiring vacancy, and demolition or substantial remodel. 

For curable violations, the tenant must first get a chance to cure; for no-fault notices, relocation assistance or a final-month rent waiver is mandatory, and failure to comply makes the notice void.

Here is a plain-language version:

“Just cause” means the landlord needs a real legal reason to evict you. It cannot just be because they want you out.

Common reasons that may count:

• You do not pay rent.
• You seriously break the lease and do not fix it after notice.
• You damage the home badly.
• You seriously bother or threaten other people.
• You use the unit for illegal activity.
• The landlord or a close family member is truly moving in.
• The landlord is truly taking the unit off the rental market.
• The building must be emptied because of a government order, demolition, or a major remodel.

Reasons that may not count:

• The landlord gives a fake reason.
• The landlord says they will move in, but they really do not plan to live there.
• The landlord says you broke the lease, but it was only a small or minor issue.
• The landlord is really trying to punish you for asking for repairs or standing up for your rights.

Rent Increase Caps: Under the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), rent increases are limited for many rental units. The cap is 5% + local CPI, or 10% total, whichever is lower.

Project Sentinel is a non-profit founded in 1976, operating as one of the largest Northern California agencies providing comprehensive housing services. We are dedicated to safeguarding the availability and stability of housing.

Project Sentinel: Offers mediation, counseling, and education on tenant-landlord disputes regarding security deposits, repairs, and eviction.

San José does have local tenant protections beyond state law. 

Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) 

In San José, landlords of many apartments, guesthouses, and some unpermitted units can only end a tenancy for one of 13 legal reasons.

Reasons based on tenant actions

1. Not paying rent
2. Repeatedly or seriously breaking the lease
3. Damaging the unit
4. Refusing to sign a similar new lease
5. Disturbing neighbors or causing serious problems
6. Refusing legal entry to the unit
7. Having an unapproved subtenant staying after the main tenant leaves
8. Criminal activity

Reasons based on landlord decisions

9. Major rehab work on the unit
10. Taking the unit off the rental market
11. Owner move-in
12. City code action that requires the tenant to move out
13. Converting an unpermitted unit into a permitted use

Relocation money

If a tenant is forced to move out for reasons 9–13, the landlord must pay relocation money.

• Studio: $6,925
• 1-bedroom: $8,400
• 2-bedroom: $10,353

3-bedroom: $12,414

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Sunnyvale does not have rent control above AB1482. Sunnyvale’s Tenant Protections Program (TPP) includes relocation support in case of no-fault eviction and provides renters the right to a lease. Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who exercise their rights.

If your landlord evicts you for no fault, you could get two months of rent to help you move.

Your landlord is required to offer a yearlong lease before offering a lease of shorter term.

You have the right to ask for different lease length terms.

Landlords must:

• Provide a lease addendum or a written notice signed by the tenant.
• Display a posting summarizing the TPP and the California Tenant Protections Act of 2019. The poster must be in a noticeable area where all tenants can easily see and read it.

Summary on City Website. Full text is in the Municipal Code found here.

The city is currently considering improving TPP to require 3 months rent for no-fault evictions. 

Housing safety concerns (plumbing, electrical, heating) can be reported online here. For fire safety concerns, email or call Fire Prevention Services (408-730-7212).