Tenant Solidarity Email

If you have issues with your housing like a conflict with your landlord, contact us. The email is run by volunteer members of the union.

info@pasadenatenantsunion.org

We cannot provide you with legal advice but we will do our best to counsel you with information about your rights as a tenant and potential strategies for fighting back.

IMPORTANT: LA County COVID Emergency Protections until March 31, 2023

For more info, see the county page . Fill out this form for non-payment of rent protections.

Contact our Tenant Solidarity Email so we can help you navigate these laws.

Join our email list

The LA County Emergency measure protections against evictions for:

Non-payment of rent due between 7/1/22 and 3/31/23 due to a CVOID-19 financial hardship, only for tenant households with income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
No-fault eviction reasons (except for qualified Owner Move-in)
Nuisance
Unauthorized occupants or pets who began residing in the unit between 3/1/20 and 1/20/23

State Law: Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482)

If it applies to you, rents cannot be increased more than 5% (plus inflation) every year or 10%, whichever is lower, and you cannot be evicted without just cause!

This law, AB 1482, has been in effect since November 2019 when PTU and allies pressured city council into adopting these statewide protections early, in response to a wave of predatory evictions from greedy landlords.

This law applies to most apartment buildings, and some single family homes. Single family homes that aren't owned by a corporation, and all units built in the last 15 years are exempt. It prevents rent increases of more than 8.8% between August 1st 2023 and July 31st 2024. If your rent was increased more than the legal amount, then you can have your rent decreased. You also cannot be evicted unless there is a specific reason provided. You can find the details of the law using this fact sheet. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please contact us.

Other Resources

The resources we list here are for general education and are for reference only. Please contact the resources directly for up-to-date information.

Los Angeles Tenants Union Handbook / El Sindicato de Inquilinos de L.A. Guía para Inquilinos: This handbook assembled by the LA Tenants Union is a very accessible resource for understanding tenant rights that apply across California. However, please note there are some important differences between LA city and Pasadena like the lack of rent control in Pasadena. So all sections about the "Rent Stabilization Ordinance" in the handbook do not apply in Pasadena.
Habitability issues and how to get repairs / Información sobre reparaciones en Pasadena: If you are having trouble getting repairs, this document lays out which things are required by law to be repaired, and strategies to get them repaired. Also has information about the Pasadena department that performs inspections.
Template letters to landlord: Tenants Together, a statewide group, compiled these template letters that can help you formally communicate with your landlord about the specific problem you are having.
Housing Rights Center, Pasadena Office: This organization is especially helpful if you have a disability, and can work with you to make requests for reasonable accommodations.
Fair Housing in Pasadena: Where to report housing discrimination.
Inclusionary/Low Income Housing Rent Calculator: If you live in a unit covered by Pasadena's inclusionary housing ordinance (different from Section 8), this calculator can help you determine what is the allowable rent that you can be charged.
Legal resource directory for tenants (CA wide): If you have an issue that requires legal assistance, many organizations are listed here that you can reach out to. Some aim to serve low income people, but others will likely cost you money.
California Tenants Handbook: A much more detailed handbook than the LATU one, but useful if you need more information about a specific thing.