Just Cause Eviction Protections

Evictions are restricted to 9 reasons (Just Causes).

The CSFRA provide eviction protections for all CSFRA covered rental units built before December 23, 2016. Contact us or visit the Housing Help Center for Landlords or the Housing Help Center for Tenants immediately if you are a landlord planning to give a termination notice or a tenant who has recently received a termination notice. 

Under the CSFRA, a tenant can only be evicted for nine lawful reasons ("just causes":

1. Failure to Pay Rent
2. Breach of Lease
3. Nuisance
4. Criminal Activity
5. Failure to Give Access
6. Necessary and Substantial Repairs Requiring Temporary Vacancy
7. Owner Move-in
8. Withdrawal of the Rental Unit Permanently from Rental Market
9. Demolition

Tenants cannot be asked to move out without a lawful reason.

Landlords must notify tenants of the reason in a written letter.

Not signing a new lease is not a reason for eviction.

The CSFRA limits the reasons for eviction to 9 “just causes.” Not having or signing a lease renewal is not one of the 9 reasons. This means that tenants do not have to sign a new lease at the end of a lease. If tenants don’t a sign a new lease, the lease terms from the prior lease remain in effect. The tenancy becomes month to month for the tenant. The tenant can terminate the tenancy with a 30-day written notice, but the landlord can only terminate for one of the 9 “just causes” and with proper written notice. The landlord may apply the effective AGA if it has been 12 or more months since the move-in date or since the last rent increase.

Termination Notices 

The CSFRA requires landlords to file notice to cease, termination notices and follow-up documentation with the Rental Housing Committee. These can now be filed online at mvrent.mountainview.gov.

Written Notice to Cease

For Breach of Lease, Nuisance, Criminal Activity and Failure to Give Access, the Landlord is required to first serve the Tenant with a Written Notice to Cease to provide the Tenant an opportunity to cure an alleged violation or problem prior to service of a notice to terminate tenancy.

Tenant Relocation Assistance – First Right of Return

Landlords may have to offer tenant relocation assistance if they evict tenants for the following reasons:

• Necessary and Substantial Repairs Requiring Temporary Vacancy
• Owner Move-in
• Permanent Withdrawal of the Rental Unit from Rental Market
• Demolition

Landlords are required to notify tenants of their right to Relocation Assistance and may be required to pay relocation assistance. Tenants also have a first right of return to the unit, if the unit is returned to the market by the landlord or successor landlord.

Learn more about Tenant Relocation Assistance here.