Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.10
California Civil Code
Operative Text
(a) After July 1, 1990, in any city, county, or city and county which administers a system of controls on the price at which residential rental units may be offered for rent or lease and which requires the registration of rents, any owner who evicts a tenant based upon the owner’s or the owner’s immediate relative’s intention to occupy the tenant’s unit, shall be required to maintain residence in the unit for at least six continuous months. If a court determines that the eviction was based upon fraud by the owner or the owner’s immediate relative to not fulfill this six-month requirement, a court may order the owner to pay treble the cost of relocating the tenant from his or her existing unit back into the previous unit and may order the owner to pay treble the amount of any increase in rent which the tenant has paid. If the tenant decides not to relocate back into the previous unit, the court may order the owner to pay treble the amount of one month’s rent paid by the tenant for the unit from which he or she was evicted and treble the amount of any costs incurred in relocating to a different unit. The prevailing party shall be awarded attorney’s fees and court costs. (b) The remedy provided by this section shall not be construed to prohibit any other remedies available to a any party affected by this section.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.10 applies in California localities that both cap rents and require rent registration. It establishes that when a landlord removes a tenant through an owner-move-in eviction, the landlord or qualifying relative must actually live in that unit for at least six uninterrupted months. If a court finds the stated intent to occupy was fraudulent, it may award the displaced tenant damages multiplied by three — covering relocation costs, any rent increases paid, or a month's rent plus moving expenses if the tenant chooses not to return — along with attorney's fees and court costs for the prevailing party.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.10, operators in rent-controlled, registration-required jurisdictions who use an owner-move-in basis for eviction are generally expected to document and fulfill the six-consecutive-month occupancy requirement. Compliant operators typically retain records showing the owner or qualifying relative took up genuine, continuous residence in the vacated unit. Because a court finding of fraud can trigger treble damages plus attorney's fees, property managers in covered cities often treat the occupancy obligation as a firm operational commitment rather than a formality.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.10 gives tenants in qualifying rent-controlled cities a legal basis to challenge an owner-move-in eviction if the claimed intent to occupy turns out to be fraudulent. If a court agrees, it can award significantly enhanced damages — multiplied damages for relocation costs, rent increases, or alternative moving expenses depending on whether the tenant returns to the original unit. Tenants who believe this provision may apply to their situation can explore options such as filing a complaint with the local rent board, raising a violation as a defense in eviction proceedings, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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