Welcome to Tenant Defenders

Attorney Marc D. Whitham

Eviction Defense & Tenants’ Legal Rights

Tenants can decide their own fate.

 

Tenants rights are fundamental rights;  both civil rights andproperty rights. Protecting the decency and security of your home is a basic necessity. Everybody needs a place to live, and just because you pay rent does not mean your right to housing is any less important.

California tenants have important rights, and they do not have to put up with oppressive landlords and unhealthy living conditions.

The legal protections that tenants enjoy include both substantive rights – because a tenancy is a property interest, but also procedural rights – because the Constitution guarantees due process.  Nonetheless, tenants must understand that legally speaking, they are in a more

vulnerable position than they often suspect.

Tenants legal rights are real, but they are often ignored.

While it is not always the case, a dispute with the landlord can represent a critical threat. When the relationship sours, there are no legal guarantees that you will be able to stay in your home. Being forced to leave your home because of an eviction brings drastic disruption to your life.  Finding a new place to live within a matter of days, moving expenses, changing schools for children, entanglement in the legal system, damage to your credit, time lost from work, and psychological stress are just some of the common consequences of an eviction, but they are not inevitable.

If you have a problem with your landlord, you don’t have to live in fear of being evicted, but you do need to understand not only what the law says, but how it will be applied if you end up in court.  That’s why it’s important to talk to a lawyer focused on tenants’ rights.

To fully benefit from the protections the law provides, many times tenants need a lawyer.

Whether you need to prepare for defending an eviction, or you need to assert your rights to decent housing, or because your landlord’s negligence has caused you harm, legal assistance is available.

Call 619-573-9582 to speak with an attorney.

No obligations, just peace of mind.

Don’t be intimidated. Take action.

We will help you to assert your housing rights.

 

  • Don’t Waste Time

Most often, a tenant who faces a conflict with the landlord has only a short period of time to act. This is especially true if you have already been sued in and served with an unlawful detainer. If your landlord has sued you or is threatening to sue you, then you must act quickly. Hesitating and uncertainty can lead to a loss of money, loss of security and the loss of your home. Don’t wait. Contact us immediately to discuss your case.

  • Get Informed

If your situation is not a lawsuit in court, but rather a question, or a curiosity about what the law says, there are many places where you can find educational materials, and we recommend that every tenant become familiar with the legal protections that exist in the state of California. Look around the website and see if we have information to help you.  If you have a question and you can’t find an answer,  click here to send us a comment.  We’ll be happy to point you to the resources you need.

  • Get Representation

If you have a situation that is more than a question, and are already having a confrontation with your landlord, then information alone is seldom enough to resolve the dispute to your advantage. What most tenants need, but seldom have, is an attorney who knows the law, and the landlord’s duties under the law, who understands your viewpoint and will forcefully argue for your interests. Even the most informed tenants can find the court system and the challenge of defending a lawsuit to be overwhelming

  • Stand up for Your Rights

Tenants who go to court without an attorney frequently find themselves entering into bad agreements and suffering humiliation at the hands of the landlord’s lawyers. Having an experienced litigator on your side will make a difference. Written notices demanding the payment of rent, notices that threaten the termination of your lease, accusations of illegal activity, excessive rent increases, and the oppressive actions of the owner or management should be met with the help of a professional.

Educating Tenants & Defending Wrongful Evictions

mdw@tenantdefenders.com