TENANT PROTECTION
08/17/2026
Current Laws
Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
CA Civil Code Section 1954.50
Limits rent control and exempts:
Single-family homes, condominiums, and post-1995 construction Ellis Act
CA Government Code Sections 7060 – 7060.7
Following CA Supreme Court decision in Nash v City of Santa Monica, allows owners to go out of the rental market business.
Re-Rent
First right of return for 10 years
5 years at same rate + allowable increases
Current Laws
California’s Tenant Protection Act
AB 1482
Sets statewide rent increases and just-cause evictions and exempts owner-occupied units.
Protections apply only if tenancy is >12 months
CA Civil Code Section 1950.5
Limits security deposit to 1-2 month
CA Health and Safety Code 17975
Relocation Assistance
Goal
The City of Merced has specific tenant protections in its Municipal Code:
Chapter 8.53 – REPEAT HOUSING CODE VIOLATORS PROGRAM
Chapter 9.75 – DISPLACED TENANT PROTECTIONS
These protections should be expanded to protect all tenants within the City of Merced AND
Tenants require additional protections to prevent displacement. Local programs/ordinances add protections not covered by State Law.
Programs
Rental Registry Program
Pro-Active Code Enforcement and Inspection Program
Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Tenant Rights to Legal Representation Program
Expanded Protections
Protections against retaliatory conduct:
Depriving tenants of use of premises, decreasing services, or otherwise interfering with tenants’ rights under the lease Threatening to disclose information regarding or relating to immigration or citizenship status Retaliatory Rent Increases
Rent cannot increase more than once in any 12-month period AND No more than allowable under AB1482
The lower of 5% local CPI or 10% of current rent
Temporary Relocation Payments
Offer a comparable unit OR
2 months + Utilities + Security Deposit
City program
Permanent Relocation Payments
2 months + moving and packing expenses + storage costs + taxes City program
Expanded Protections
Right of First Refusal
Repairs/renovations/no-fault evictions/purchase
Ellis Act Right of Return
Owner to be liable for actual and exemplary damages if the unit is offered for rent within 2 years of being removed from the market
Buyout Agreement
School Year Evictions
No-fault evictions of educators or tenants with school-aged child Santa Monica/Concord