Q&A

Why did the tenant stay?

The tenant and their son packed their family belongings into storage and drove halfway across the U.S.
A professional cleaning service prepared the property, ensuring that surfaces such as bathrooms and kitchen counters were clean upon their arrival. However, unsanitary and unlivable conditions became apparent over time.
A kitchen flood was discovered immediately. The tenant informed the landlords about the issue upon arrival, and the landlords instructed them on how to find a wrench and fix it. No plumber or mold mitigator was sent to address the problem, so the tenant followed the instructions and resolved it themselves.
The tenant only knew one person in the area and had nowhere else to go.
They were unaware of their rights under federal and California laws.
When the tenants discovered rooms filled with trash, feces, and overflowing closets, medicine cabinets, and drawers, they documented the situation with images and emailed their landlords, proposing compensation. The landlords denied the existence of the filth, defended their position, and rejected all attempts by the tenants to reach a compromise or mediation.