Resources
Tenant Organizing & Empowerment Resources
- Tenant Association Handbook (LA Tenants Union)
- Highly recommended if you live in a multi-unit building!
- Manuel Para Asociaciones de Inquilinxs (LA Tenants Union)
- How To Form A Tenant Association (NYS Tenants & Neighbors)
- How To Build A Tenants Union (TANC)
- Tactics 4 Tenants
- Sample letters to write to your landlord (Tenants Together)
- How to Find Your Landlord (Cal Tenant Law)
- How To Research Who Your “LLC” Landlord Is Using Secretary of State Filings In CA (SBTU)
- A Guide For Transformative-Justice Informed Conflict Engagement And Harm Intervention (Northeast Local, LATU)
- Guía Para El Manejo De Conflictos Y La Intervención De Daños De Acuerdo A La Justicia Transformativa (Sección Noreste De Los Ángeles, SILA)
- Work Order Form Template
Pamphlets & Flyers for Printing
Tenants Rights Information & Other Resources
- Overview of Landlord-Tenant Laws in CA
- Calculate the legally allowable rent increase
- Report Illegal Short-Term Rentals in the City of Santa Barbara
- A Guide To Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities
- UNA GUIA PARA LOS DERECHOS Y LAS RESPONSABILIDADES DE LOS ARRENDATARIOS RESIDENCIALES Y LOS ARRENDADORES
- Know your Rights Alerts from CA Attorney General – related to rent increases, Tenant Protection Act, security deposits, habitability, and the eviction process.
- Santa Barbara 3-months rent relocation for no-fault eviction
- For mostly multi-family units, read into details
- Santa Barbara 1-Year Lease Ordinance
- Landlord must offer 1-year lease except under certain conditions
- Characteristics of a “Substandard Building”
- Habitability checklist
- Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
- Wear and Tear and Security Deposits Under California Law
- California Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent or “Repair And Deduct”
- Tenants Rights That Cannot Be Signed Away In A Lease
Local Government & Nonprofit Resources
- Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
- People can apply for section 8/other housing programs, assistance with deposits
- Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
- Lawyers can assist tenants in learning about their rights and also with eviction defense
- Independent Living Resource Center
- Assists people with disabilities and seniors with assistance with applying, locating, advocating for, and obtaining affordable and accessible housing. Can help individuals revolve disputes with housing.
- United Way Of Santa Barbara County
- Rental assistance for those tenants who lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Isla Vista Tenants Union
- Program that assists tenants in Isla Vista with learning about their rights and with disputes with landlords
- Rental Housing Mediation
- A program offered by the city of Santa Barbara that provides non -binding mediation between tenants and landlords
- Building & Safety | City of Santa Barbara
- Building inspection and code enforecement