Cal. Civ. Code § 1950
California Civil Code
Operative Text
One who hires part of a room for a dwelling is entitled to the whole of the room, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary; and if a landlord lets a room as a dwelling for more than one family, the person to whom he first lets any part of it is entitled to the possession of the whole room for the term agreed upon, and every tenant in the building, under the same landlord, is relieved from all obligation to pay rent to him while such double letting of any room continues.
California Civil Code § 1950 addresses situations where a landlord attempts to rent portions of a single room to multiple parties for use as a dwelling. Under this rule, a person who rents even a part of a room for dwelling purposes is legally entitled to occupy the entire room, regardless of any lease clause that says otherwise. Additionally, if a landlord rents the same room to more than one family, the first tenant to have rented any part of that room holds the right to the whole room for the agreed term. As long as this improper double-letting of any room in the building continues, every tenant in that building under the same landlord is relieved of the obligation to pay rent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950 places significant restrictions on how landlords may let rooms intended for dwelling use. A compliant property operator avoids subdividing a single dwelling room among multiple tenants or families, and ensures that no room in the building is simultaneously let to more than one household. Operators generally audit their rental agreements to confirm that no double-letting arrangement exists, because such a condition triggers a rent-withholding right for every tenant in the building — not just those directly affected by the improper letting.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950, tenants have a statutory right to the full room they have rented for dwelling purposes, and the first tenant to rent any part of a room has priority to the whole space over any subsequently added occupant. If a landlord is found to be double-letting any room in the building, all tenants in that building under the same landlord may have grounds to withhold rent for the duration of that condition. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may consider documenting the double-letting, raising the statutory protection as a defense in any rent-related proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about how § 1950 has been applied.
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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