Cal. Civ. Code § 70-26-101
Letting Of Parts Of Rooms Prohibited
Operative Text
A person 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 the landlord 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 the landlord while the double letting of any room continues.
Montana Code § 70-26-101 prohibits landlords from renting out only a portion of a room as a dwelling or from renting the same room to more than one family. Under this rule, a tenant who rents part of a room is legally entitled to occupy the entire room, and the first tenant to rent any portion of a doubly-let room gains the right to the whole room for the agreed term. Additionally, while any such improper double-letting continues in a building, every tenant in that building under the same landlord is relieved of the obligation to pay rent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Mont. Code Ann. § 70-26-101 generally ensure that each room offered as a dwelling is let to a single occupant or family unit and that no room is simultaneously rented to multiple parties. Compliant property managers maintain clear lease records that identify each room as a distinct, exclusively occupied unit to avoid triggering the statute's automatic rent-relief provision. Because a violation of this section can relieve all tenants in the building of their rent obligations, careful attention to how rooms are advertised, leased, and occupied is a standard part of responsible property management in Montana.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Mont. Code Ann. § 70-26-101, tenants in Montana have a statutory right to the full room they are renting, even if their agreement only described a portion of it, and the first tenant of any doubly-let room is entitled to exclusive possession for the full lease term. Notably, if a landlord is found to be improperly renting the same room to more than one family, every tenant in the building under that landlord may be relieved from paying rent for as long as the violation continues. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Montana housing law to understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.