Tenant harassment and what the law does about it.

The law covers a wide range of conduct. Refusing to make repairs to wear you down. Entering your home without proper notice. Shutting off water, power, or other services. Threats, or constant unwanted contact. Pressuring you to take a buyout you do not want.

No single act has to be dramatic. A pattern of smaller acts, all pointing toward getting you out, is often what the law is built to catch.

The City of Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance lets a tenant sue a landlord directly, ask a court to order the conduct to stop, and recover money damages plus the cost of a lawyer. There are added penalties when the tenant is older or has a disability.

This is one reason these cases are possible to bring even when the harm is hard to put a dollar figure on.

Depending on the facts, a tenant may recover money for what they went through, statutory penalties the law adds on top, and in serious cases punitive damages meant to punish the landlord. A court can also order the landlord to stop.

What any one case is worth depends entirely on its own facts. Listing what the law allows is not a promise about your situation.