Housing Protections for Victims of Abuse, Sexual Assault or Stalking

You have the right to terminate a rental agreement without paying a penalty if either of the following is true:

1. You believe it is necessary to leave the rental unit because of a fear of imminent harm of the victim (yourself or a minor). This belief must be “reasonable.”
2. The past harm (the abuse, sexual assault or stalking) happened in the rental unit or on the property within the last six months.

Steps you must take

At least 30 days before you leave the unit, you must give the landlord two things:

1. written notice that you plan to leave the unit and the date you plan to leave.
2. documentation that shows why you believe you must leave the unit and why that belief is reasonable. The documentation can be from:
   1. a court
   2. law enforcement
   3. other government agency
   4. an abuse, sexual assault or stalking assistance program, or
   5. a professional from whom you received counseling or other assistance concerning the past harm, such as a doctor, lawyer, counselor or religious counselor.
3. If you don’t have documentation from one of those places, you can give the landlord a “self-certification” signed under penalty of perjury. Follow this link for a self-certification form.

You may be able to revoke your termination notice

If you decide you want to stay in the unit, give your landlord written notice right away. You will be able to stay only if the landlord has not entered into a rental agreement with another tenant. You don’t always have to give written notice, but it is safer for you to do so. It can be by email or text.

You can ask the landlord to change the locks within 48 hours if either of the following is true:

1. You fear imminent harm of the victim (yourself or a minor).

2. The past harm (the abuse, sexual assault, or stalking) happened in the rental unit or on the property within the last six months.

NOTE: If the person who caused the harm also lives in the unit, you must give the landlord a copy of a court order that requires that person to leave the unit.

If the landlord changes the locks, the landlord will give a copy of the new key to each tenant (other than the person who has a court order not to be there.)

If the landlord does not change the locks, you can have them changed at your own expense (unless the landlord agrees to pay), but you must:

1. make sure the new locks and installation are at least of the same quality as the original installation
2. tell the landlord within 24 hours of the installation
3. give the landlord a key to the new lock

You have the right to ask for permission to install additional security measures. The “measures” include a security system or security camera.

A landlord shall not unreasonably refuse your request, but you must:

1. give your landlord your request at least seven days before you have the measures installed
2. make sure the security measures and their installation are of good quality and are safe
3. pay the cost of installation and operation of the security measures
4. pay for any damages resulting from the installation (such as repairing holes in the siding where a camera was installed)

Your landlord or provider of a housing subsidy who has information about your status as a victim of abuse, sexual assault or stalking must keep the documentation or information confidential.

The only way the landlord or provider can reveal the information is if one of the following is true:

1. You give permission to release the information.
2. A court, a government regulation, or a government audit requires that the landlord or provider release the information.
3. The information is required for a court proceeding, but only if it either remains under seal or is for a claim to terminate the tenancy or for new locks or security measures (described above).