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Subject Guides

Subject Guides

Landlord-Tenant Information Resources

This guide provides information on landlord-tenant issues in Santa Cruz County.

Local Agencies

The following local agencies provide information and referral information as well as counseling on landlord-tenant issues. Bilingual staff may be available. Visit the Community Information Database (CID) for more agencies.

Self-Help Websites

These websites offer information and self-help resources for common landlord and tenant issues.

Books

The following books are available in the Santa Cruz Public Library system.

  • California Landlord's Law Book: Evictions California Landlord's Law Book: Evictions
    by Brown, David Wayne

    Includes information on preparing notices, filing an unlawful detainer complaint in court, winning by default if the tenant doesn't respond, handling a contested case, representing yourself in court, dealing with eviction delaying tactics, and collecting the unpaid rent after you win.

  • California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities
    by Brown, David Wayne

    Includes information on leases & rental agreements, security deposits, dangerous conditions, rent control, repairs & maintenance, discrimination & privacy, and evictions.



  • California Tenants' Rights California Tenants' Rights
    by Brown, David Wayne and Portman, Janet

    Information on understanding and negotiating a lease, inspecting a rental before you move in, fighting discrimination, getting needed repairs and maintenance, dealing with a nosy landlord, breaking a lease with minimum fall-out, getting your security deposit back, figuring out rules for rent increases, and fighting an eviction.

  • Every Landlord's Legal Guide Every Landlord's Legal Guide
    by Stewart, Marcia

    Includes information on choosing tenants, preparing a lease or rental agreement, collecting and returning deposits, avoiding discrimination charges, hiring a property manager, keeping up with repairs and maintenance, minimizing liability, dealing with problem tenants, and more.

  • Every Tenant's Legal Guide Every Tenant's Legal Guide
    by Portman, Janet and Stewart, Marcia

    Includes information on inspecting a place before you move in, negotiating a lease or rental agreement, putting roommate relationships on a sound legal footing, understanding key rules on rent increases and rent control, getting needed repairs and maintenance, protecting your privacy, fighting illegal discrimination, breaking a lease with minimum financial liability, getting your security deposit back, and understanding and preparing for eviction proceedings.

  • Leases and Rental Agreements Leases and Rental Agreements
    by Stewart, Marcia

    Includes information on preparing a lease or rental agreement, tailoring your documents to meet your needs, making required disclosures, complying with your state's laws on security deposits, privacy rules and discrimination, checking tenant references and credit, doing a final inspection when the tenant moves out, and more. Some forms are in Spanish.

  • Renters' Rights: The Basics Renters' Rights: The Basics
    by Portman, Janet and Stewart, Marcia

    Information on leases and rental agreements, discrimination, rent, security deposits, privacy, roommates, repairs and maintenance, and more.