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Emigration and immigration

California Attorney General Issues Alert: Housing Discrimination Against Immigrant Communities is Illegal

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently issued a consumer alert reminding Californians that it is against the law for landlords to discriminate against tenants, retaliate against tenants, or influence tenants to move out by threatening to disclose a tenant's immigration status to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or law enforcement. The alert comes as the federal administration carries out an inhumane campaign of mass deportation and creates a culture of fear and mistrust. Bonta emphasized that families across the country are experiencing fear and uncertainty as a result of President Trump's inhumane immigration agenda.

Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against tenants based on various protected characteristics, including immigration status, citizenship, or primary language. They are also required to provide translations of lease documents to tenants who speak primarily Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean. Failure to comply with these laws can result in landlords being required to pay tenants for damages, penalties, and attorney's fees.

Key Takeaways:

  • Housing discrimination is illegal in California, and landlords cannot discriminate against tenants based on immigration status, citizenship, or primary language.
  • Private housing providers cannot inquire about a tenant's or applicant's citizenship or immigration status.
  • Landlords may ask tenants or applicants for documentation, but only if it is explicitly required by law.
  • Landlords are required to provide translations of lease documents to tenants who speak primarily Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean.
  • Failure to comply with these laws can result in landlords being required to pay tenants for damages, penalties, and attorney's fees.
  • The California Attorney General's office has held landlords accountable for violating California laws in Bakersfield, Marysville, and across California.
  • A group of property management and real estate holding companies owned by Mike Nijjar and members of his family were sued by Attorney General Bonta for violating numerous California laws.
  • Tenants who believe their landlord has violated their tenant rights are encouraged to seek legal help immediately.

Statistics:

  • 22,000 rental housing units are owned and managed by the Nijjar family and their related companies statewide, primarily in low-income neighborhoods.
  • Over 70% of California's bilingual residents speak Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean as their primary language.

Sources:

  • https://oag.ca.gov/tenants
  • https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/amidst-increased-ice-activity-california-attorney-general-issues-alert-housing-0
  • https://oag.ca.gov/report

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