A rental unit is classified as uninhabitable if it lacks one or more of the following features: Buildings and grounds free from rodents, insects, and other pests; plumbing, electricity, and gas in proper working condition; sufficient heating facilities in at least four rooms; buildings and grounds free from mold, lead, or other structural hazards; adequate hygiene and does not endanger the occupant’s health. Please review the complete requirements for rental units in Section 1941.1 of the California Civil Code.
The landlord is obligated to ensure the rental unit is habitable prior to the key handover. This includes addressing any issues that pose significant health and safety risks, as well as repairing conditions not in compliance with state and local building and health codes, under the implied warranty of habitability. If the landlord fails to meet these standards, legal action may be necessary. A tenants’ rights lawyer can help you navigate this process, filing a claim against the landlord and advocating for compensation on your behalf.
If your landlord refuses to provide maintenance to the property or rental unit, you should immediately file a written complaint. The complaint should include a detailed description of the issue, along with any health or safety complications you are experiencing. If you live in a city with rent control, you should register your complaint with the housing department. We encourage you to consult with a California tenants’ lawyer before taking legal action against your landlord.
If your rental unit is infested with rodents, insects, or other pests, then your landlord must pay for an exterminator. For example, under Section 1945.604 of the California Civil Code, the landlord is required to perform follow-up until all bedbugs are eliminated from the rental unit and surrounding facilities.
Many people lack a variety of options when it comes to finding a place to live. Often, a person is forced to sign a lease agreement for a rental unit with serious issues. Here are some steps to take after discovering problems with a potential rental unit: Submit a written description or detailed list of any problems, request that the issues be addressed before committing to sign a lease agreement, consult with a Los Angeles tenants’ rights lawyer before making any final decisions.
Cockroaches aren’t just a nuisance. They carry diseases like salmonella and E. coli and can trigger asthma attacks. If your landlord doesn’t hire an exterminator to help address the issue, call your local health department to report the infestation.Once you’ve filed a complaint with your local health department, they’ll investigate by sending a health inspector to the property. The inspector will assess the tenant’s complaint and check for any health violations. If violations are found, the inspector will prepare a report detailing the issues and the landlord’s deadline to address them. This report is then sent to the landlord. The landlord is given a set timeframe to rectify the violations. Once fixed, the landlord can request a re-inspection. If the violations persist, the health department can impose fines on the landlord.
Landlords can possibly be held responsible for lead poisoning if the lead exposure was caused by a property defect or landlord negligence. Lead poisoning is a serious health issue resulting from exposure to lead-based paint or other lead sources in a property. Lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, especially in young children, and can lead to lifelong health problems. If a landlord fails to take necessary steps to remove lead hazards from their property or fails to disclose known lead hazards to their tenants, they may be held liable for any injuries resulting from lead poisoning.
If you live in a house or apartment building built before 1978, it’s possible that lead paint was used at some point. This isn’t necessarily a cause for concern unless the paint is peeling or chipping. Lead is a toxic substance, especially harmful to babies and children, as it can damage their brains and lead to learning problems. Every city and town have its own set of regulations that landlords must follow when it comes to painting their rental properties, but it’s almost certain that no matter where you live, the landlord is responsible for keeping the paint in their home fresh and free of peeling and chipping. If you have a negligent landlord who doesn’t maintain the paint in their home, especially an older home, you should contact your health department.
The Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) is designed to tackle persistent health, safety, and habitability issues in rental properties within the city. It incentivizes landlords to undertake repairs and restore the property to a safe and livable state. Tenants living in affected units may qualify for a rent reduction ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the severity of the violations. They can choose to pay the reduced rent to the landlord or deposit it into an escrow account managed by the Department. Funds in the escrow account are accessible to the landlord, tenants, or other parties through an application process. Eligible tenants can apply for these funds to cover repair costs, utility bills, or even relocation expenses. If your building is part of REAP and your landlord fails to address issues, contact Castelblanco Law Group for assistance in initiating legal action against your landlord.
Eric Castelblanco is the founder of Castelblanco Law Group and a Harvard Law-educated attorney. He is dedicated to advocating for tenants living in unsafe, uninhabitable apartments and has built a firm focused on protecting vulnerable communities.
Under his leadership, Castelblanco Law Group has represented over 10,000 tenants and recovered more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts. Eric has spent over 20 years practicing habitability law, holding negligent property owners accountable and improving the living conditions of families and children exposed to serious health and safety hazards, including cockroach and bed bug infestations, lead poisoning in infants and children from old paint, carbon monoxide exposure, and serious accidents from unsafe apartment buildings.
Eric’s work is driven by a commitment to families and children suffering from these conditions. He ensures that clients not only have their legal rights enforced but are treated with compassion, respect, and understanding throughout the process.
He is also the host of the Vivamos Podcast: Latino Stories of Success, a bilingual show in English and Spanish that features inspiring immigrant stories, struggles, and achievements from the Latino community. The show is fun, engaging, and motivational, designed to entertain and educate audiences about resilience and success.
At Castelblanco Law Group, Eric leads a team of bilingual attorneys, paralegals, client liaisons, and staff, creating a law firm where every client can communicate comfortably in English or Spanish, forming a special relationship between client and attorney that is often unavailable at other firms.
Castelblanco Law Group is a habitability law firm dedicated to representing individuals and families living in unsafe and uninhabitable apartments. The firm focuses on apartments with extreme health and safety hazards, including cockroach and bed bug infestations, unsafe structural conditions, lead poisoning in infants and children, carbon monoxide exposure, and serious accidents from unsafe apartment buildings.
The firm was founded by Eric Castelblanco with the mission to protect tenants whose health, safety, and well-being are compromised by negligent property owners. Castelblanco Law Group has represented over 10,000 tenants and recovered more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts for families living in these dangerous conditions.
At Castelblanco Law Group, we represent tenants living in apartments that violate habitability standards and negatively impact quality of life. Our work focuses on holding property owners accountable when they fail to maintain safe and livable apartments.
We ensure our clients receive legal compensation while helping improve their living conditions. The apartments we focus on carry serious health and safety hazards, including:
We take on these cases because tenants suffer in these conditions, often experiencing asthma, stress, and other health impacts, and the law requires property owners to provide habitable apartments.
We provide full legal representation for tenants experiencing habitability issues, including:
Our attorneys handle every step of the legal process, from case evaluation to settlement or trial, so tenants can focus on their health and safety while we advocate for their rights.
Yes. Castelblanco Law Group is a fully bilingual law firm. Every member of our firm—from receptionists, paralegals, and client liaisons to our attorneys—speaks English and Spanish fluently.
This ensures that clients can communicate comfortably in their language, building a stronger relationship between client and attorney, and providing the understanding and support that is often missing at other firms.
Yes. We offer a free case review by phone to help tenants understand their rights and determine if they have a case.
We have an exceptional team ready to take your call and listen carefully. We pride ourselves on excellent client service. We understand that calling a law firm can feel intimidating, especially when asking for help with repairs, fumigation, or other habitability issues.
We take the time to explain tenant rights, answer questions, and advise whether you have a legal case against a negligent property owner. Every consultation is handled in English or Spanish, and every client is treated with respect, understanding, and care.
At Castelblanco Law Group, we are a habitability law firm. Tenants come to us when they are living in apartments that are infested with cockroaches, bed bugs, or other unsafe conditions. Often, tenants have reported these problems to their property owner, but the owner fails to address the concerns, making the apartment uninhabitable.
California law requires property owners to maintain safe and livable apartments. When they fail, we step in to protect tenants’ rights, secure compensation, and ensure apartments are safe.
Castelblanco Law Group has a proven record of success in habitability law, having represented over 10,000 tenants and recovered more than $350 million for families living in unsafe apartments.
If your landlord refuses to address infestations such as cockroaches, bed bugs, or rodents, you have legal options. These are uninhabitable apartment conditions, threatening both health and safety. California law requires property owners to maintain safe apartments, and failure to do so may entitle tenants to legal action and compensation.
At Castelblanco Law Group, our habitability-focused attorneys will evaluate your situation, explain your rights in English or Spanish, and help you determine the best next steps. We fight to ensure your health and safety are protected and hold negligent property owners accountable.
Yes. Eric Castelblanco is the host of the popular Vivamos Podcast: Latino Stories of Success. It’s filmed in a television show-style interview format, featuring guests from the Latino community who share their immigrant journeys, challenges, and achievements.
The show is fun, entertaining, and educational, inspiring Latino youth and anyone interested in hearing incredible stories of resilience and success. It is bilingual (English and Spanish) and available on YouTube (@VivamosPodcast), Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
Castelblanco Law Group has a proven track record of success in habitability law. We have represented over 10,000 tenants and recovered more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts.
We focus on tenants living in apartments with serious health and safety hazards, including:
Our bilingual attorneys approach every case with precision, strategy, and compassion, ensuring tenants receive justice, compensation, and safer living conditions.