Tenant rights · California
Your home, your rights,
explained before it's urgent.
An eviction notice, a deposit that never came back, repairs that keep getting put off or a rent increase that seems too high. Tell us what is going on and we connect you with an independent attorney licensed in California who reviews your situation and quotes the fee before any work starts.
A free, no-obligation first call. Fee terms explained in writing before any work starts.
A place to live. Rules that protect it.
How we can help
From move-in to move-out.
Perhaps you recognize yourself here. If not, simply tell us about your situation.
Eviction notices and court papers
A 3-day notice, a 30- or 60-day notice or an unlawful detainer summons: understand the deadline and your options.
Learn more 02Security deposit
Check deductions, the 21-day deadline and the itemized statement, and ask for what is owed to you.
Learn more 03Repairs and habitability
Mold, leaks, no heat or pests: how to request repairs in writing and what you can do if nothing happens.
Learn more 04Rent increases and just cause
Whether a rent increase or a termination notice is allowed under the Tenant Protection Act or local rent control.
Learn moreI got a notice from my landlord and don't know how long I have.
My landlord kept my security deposit.
My landlord won't fix mold, leaks or the heating.
It starts with listening
A lease is paperwork.
Your home is not.
A notice taped to the door. A deposit that never came back. A leak your landlord has promised to fix for months. A rent increase that feels like a push to leave. Housing problems are personal and the deadlines can be short. Tell us what is happening and we connect you with an independent attorney licensed in California who looks at your lease, your notices and your options.
Tell us about it
You don’t need
to have everything ready.
Who is behind Tenant First
Leon E. Johnson
Managing Partner, Omnilex · San Francisco
Tenant First is part of Omnilex. Leon leads Omnilex’s US business from San Francisco. He is a California attorney and spent about twelve years at Goodwin and Kirkland & Ellis before joining Omnilex.
Leon does not take on the individual matters that come through this site. Your matter is handled by the independent California attorney you choose to engage, who works in landlord-tenant law.
- Admitted in California since 2015 (State Bar #302786), also Utah; Texas inactive
- JD, Harvard Law School · BS Finance, Brigham Young University
- Speaks English, Spanish, Russian
Free tools
Check your dates in a minute.
Quick calculators for the deadlines that matter most. General information, not legal advice.
When must my landlord return my deposit?
Enter your move-out date and see the day your landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized statement.
Open the calculator 02When does my 3-day notice end?
Enter the day you received a 3-day notice and see when the period ends without weekends and court holidays.
Open the calculatorEasy to start
No big leap.
Just a first step.
You tell us what is going on. We find the right attorney for it.
- 01
A few words about your situation.
Choose your topic and leave your contact details. You don’t need a complete file to get started.
- 02
A free first call.
Our intake team gets in touch, clarifies what you need and connects you with an independent attorney licensed in California.
- 03
Clear fee terms before any work.
The attorney reviews your case and explains the scope and the fee arrangement in writing. You decide whether to go ahead.
For later, not for now
What you can have
ready for the call.
You don’t need to upload anything in the form. These documents can help later:
- Your lease or rental agreement
- Any notice, letter or court papers from your landlord, with the date you received them
- Rent receipts, photos and messages that show what happened
If you received court papers or a notice with a deadline, mention the date in the form. An enquiry does not stop or extend any deadline.
You may still be wondering …
Before we
talk.
Is Tenant First a law firm?
No. Tenant First connects you with independent attorneys licensed in California. Legal advice and representation come only from the attorney you choose to engage.
I rent outside California. Can you still help?
Landlord-tenant law is mostly state and local law, and our partner attorneys are licensed in California for now. Tell us where you live and we let you know whether we can help or where you might find help instead.
What does the first call cost?
The first call is free and without obligation. If you want an attorney to take on your matter, the attorney explains the scope and fee arrangement in writing before any work starts.
What happens after I send my request?
Our intake team reviews your request and gets in touch to clarify it and arrange the call. Sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not book an appointment.
The first step is free
So you can get back to simply living at home.
Time for your situation.
Clear, personal and without obligation.