The Law Office of Aaron Kohanim has extensive experience with the Compton City Rent Control. With extensive laws under Rent Control laws, an experience attorney is needed in order to win an unlawful detainer case.
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For a nonpayment of rent case in Culver City Rent Control Properties, a landlord must follow these steps:
Landlords in the City of Compton seeking to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent must comply with California Civil Code § 1946.2, which governs “just cause” eviction protections. Enacted as part of California’s statewide tenant protection laws, this code section applies once a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied the unit for 12 months, or if a new adult tenant is added, when either all tenants have occupied the unit for 12 months or at least one tenant has occupied the unit for 24 months.
This article outlines the specific legal requirements and procedures a landlord must follow when evicting for nonpayment of rent, based on the official text of CIV § 1946.2.
1. Just Cause Requirement Applies After 12 Months
Pursuant to CIV § 1946.2(a), a landlord may not terminate a tenancy without “just cause” once the applicable occupancy thresholds are met. One such “at-fault just cause” is default in the payment of rent (§ 1946.2(b)(1)(A)).
2. Written Notice to Cure or Quit (Rent Demand)
The landlord must serve a written notice that complies with Code of Civil Procedure § 1161(2). This is typically a three-day notice to pay rent or quit, which must:
- State the exact amount of rent owed (excluding fees, utilities, or other charges not considered rent),
- Include the dates for which rent is unpaid, and
- Provide a clear deadline of at least three days (excluding weekends and holidays) for the tenant to either:
- Pay in full, or
- Vacate the property.
3. Opportunity to Cure Required
CIV § 1946.2(c) mandates that when terminating a tenancy for a curable lease violation, including nonpayment of rent, the owner must first issue a notice with an opportunity to cure. Only if the tenant fails to cure within the stated period can the landlord serve a three-day notice to quit without an opportunity to cure.
Source: “Before an owner… issues a notice to terminate a tenancy for just cause that is a curable lease violation, the owner shall first give notice… with an opportunity to cure…” (CIV § 1946.2(c)).
4. Filing an Unlawful Detainer Lawsuit
If the tenant neither pays nor vacates by the deadline, the landlord may proceed by filing an unlawful detainer action in Los Angeles County Superior Court – Compton Courthouse, which serves the City of Compton.
T
he complaint must:
- Attach a copy of the lease,
- Include the served 3-day notice, and
- Declare compliance with Civil Code § 1946.2 if applicable.
5. Applicability in Compton
The City of Compton does not currently have its own rent control or just cause eviction ordinance, meaning state law (CIV § 1946.2) governs most residential evictions. Unless the property qualifies for an exemption, this statute applies to most rental units.
6. Exemptions
Some properties in Compton may be exempt from § 1946.2 if:
- The unit is a single-family home or condo that:
- Is alienable separate from other dwellings,
- Is not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member, and
- The tenant was properly served a statutory exemption notice (§ 1946.2(e)(8)(B)).
Statutory Exemption Language:
“This property is not subject to the just cause requirements of Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code…” (CIV § 1946.2(e)(8)(B)(i)).
If the required exemption notice is not provided, then the property is subject to 1946.2 protections, and just cause is required.
7. Consequences for Noncompliance
If a landlord fails to comply with the notice and procedural requirements, the eviction notice is void under CIV § 1946.2(g). A tenant may raise this as a defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding.
Additionally, if an owner proceeds in material violation of § 1946.2, they are subject to:
- Actual damages,
- Attorney’s fees and costs (at the court’s discretion), and
- Punitive damages up to three times actual damages if the landlord acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice.” (CIV § 1946.2(h)(1)).
Contact the Law Office of Aaron Kohanim today to schedule a consultation. You can call us at (310) 861-7506. If you prefer to send a quick message, visit our Contact Us page.
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