California gives tenants enforceable rights when landlords ignore repairs, harass renters, or try to push people out of their homes. This firm exists to use them.
California tenants have the right to a habitable home. When landlords ignore repairs, allow pests, permit water intrusion, or fail to maintain basic systems, the law gives tenants leverage.
Matthew Roberts represents tenants when landlords breach that duty, whether through wrongful eviction, harassment, or simply letting a unit become unlivable. A landlord who refuses to act has not avoided liability. They have invited it.
The firm focuses exclusively on California, with deep experience in cities that have their own local tenant-protection ordinances beyond state law. State law sets the floor. In many California cities, the ceiling is considerably higher.
No landlord-side work. No conflict. Representation is exclusively for tenants, in every case the firm takes.
Mold, pests, water intrusion, sinkholes, rotting floorboards, collapsing roofs. When a building becomes a physical danger, tenants have enforceable rights. These cases are built around documented conditions and landlord notice.
Leaking pipes, no hot water, faulty wiring, illegal electrical work. These failures are not minor inconveniences. Landlords are legally required to maintain basic habitability and face real liability when they don't.
Illegal evictions, forced displacement, and loss of rent-controlled housing. Whether the eviction was fraudulent, retaliatory, or procedurally improper, the firm fights to get tenants what they lost.
Intimidation, unlawful entry, interference with quiet enjoyment, and coordinated pressure campaigns to force tenants out. Local ordinances in rent-controlled cities add teeth to state law.
Failure to provide required accommodations for tenants with disabilities. Both California and federal law protect disabled tenants, and landlords who ignore that face real exposure.
Discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, familial status, or source of income. California's fair housing laws are among the broadest in the country.
No heat in winter, broken HVAC, poor ventilation that leads to mold or health hazards. A landlord who ignores these complaints is inviting a lawsuit.
Injuries caused by a landlord's failure to maintain safe premises. Broken stairs, flooding, structural collapse: property owners are accountable.
California state law sets the floor. In these cities, the ceiling is much higher.
Strong rent stabilization ordinance (RSO) and local tenant harassment protections that go beyond state law.
One of the most tenant-protective cities in the US, with strict just-cause eviction requirements and harassment ordinances.
Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance applies to most rentals, with strong protections against harassment and unlawful evictions.
City-specific rent control and tenant harassment ordinance with meaningful enforcement mechanisms.
Local tenant protections include harassment ordinances, just-cause eviction requirements, and relocation benefits.
[Describe Long Beach's specific rent control / just-cause / harassment ordinance provisions here.]
[Describe Santa Barbara's specific rent control / just-cause / harassment ordinance provisions here.]
If your landlord ignored repairs, forced you out, or made your home unlivable, you may have a case. Tell me what happened and I will tell you straight whether it is one.
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