Cal. Gov't Code § 12956
California Government Code
Operative Text
Upon notice that a verified complaint against it has been filed under this part, any owner of housing accommodations shall maintain and preserve any and all rental records or any other written materials relevant to the complaint, until the complaint is fully and finally disposed of and all appeals or related proceedings terminated.
California Government Code § 12956 establishes a record-retention obligation that activates the moment a housing owner receives notice that a verified complaint has been filed against it under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. From that point forward, the owner must hold onto all rental records and any other written materials that relate to the complaint. This duty continues without interruption until the complaint is completely resolved, including the conclusion of any appeals or related proceedings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Gov't Code § 12956, once a property owner or management company receives notice of a verified complaint, a litigation hold covering all relevant rental records and written materials goes into effect immediately. Compliant operators typically document the date notice was received, identify all potentially relevant records—leases, applications, correspondence, maintenance logs, payment histories—and ensure those materials are not altered, discarded, or overwritten. The hold remains active until every avenue of appeal or related proceeding under the complaint has been fully exhausted.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Gov't Code § 12956 works in a tenant's favor by requiring the housing owner to preserve rental records and related written materials once a verified complaint is on file, preventing the destruction of evidence that could be relevant to the tenant's claims. If a tenant believes a landlord has failed to maintain such records after receiving complaint notice, that potential violation may be relevant to proceedings before the California Civil Rights Department or in related legal actions. Tenants who have filed or are considering filing a complaint may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this preservation requirement interacts with their particular complaint.
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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