When something frightening happens at home, calling the police or asking for emergency help should not put your housing at risk.

Unfortunately, some tenants worry that a landlord will blame them for police activity, noise complaints, property damage, or the actions of an abusive partner. That fear can leave someone feeling as though they must choose between protecting themselves and keeping a roof over their head.

California and federal laws provide important protections for tenants who experience abuse, violence, crime, or an emergency. Those protections may also apply when a family member, neighbor, guest, or someone else calls for help on the tenant’s behalf.

Can a Landlord Evict You for Calling the Police?

A landlord generally cannot punish a tenant simply because the tenant sought help from law enforcement or emergency services in response to abuse, a crime, or an emergency.

Depending on the circumstances, prohibited penalties may include:

• Eviction or threats of eviction
• Fines or additional fees
• Refusal to renew a tenancy
• Retaliation for reporting an emergency
• Treating the property as a nuisance solely because help was requested

These protections recognize a basic principle: people should be able to call 911 or request emergency assistance without fearing that doing so will cost them their home.

What Situations May Be Protected?

Protections may apply when someone reasonably seeks assistance in response to:

• Domestic violence or dating violence
• Sexual assault or stalking
• A crime occurring in or near the home
• A medical or safety emergency
• A threat to a person’s life, health, safety, or property

The person requesting help does not always have to be the tenant. A neighbor, relative, guest, or household member may call because they believe someone is in danger or needs assistance.

For tenants throughout Riverside County, including those living in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Hemet, Palm Springs, Indio, and surrounding communities, the important question is not simply whether police came to the property. The reason help was requested and the circumstances surrounding the incident also matter.

What If the Police Have Been Called More Than Once?

Repeated police visits can make tenants especially nervous. A landlord may begin referring to the situation as a disturbance, nuisance, lease violation, or ongoing problem.

But the number of calls does not tell the entire story.

It matters why assistance was requested, who called, whether the tenant was the victim of the conduct, and whether the incidents involved abuse, violence, crime, or an emergency.

A landlord generally cannot turn a tenant’s need for safety or emergency assistance into a shortcut for removing that person from the home. Even when an eviction notice uses terms such as “nuisance” or “disturbance,” the tenant may still have legal protections or defenses.

Housing Protections for Survivors of Abuse

California law may protect tenants when an eviction or attempt to end a tenancy is based on abuse or violence committed against the tenant, a household member, or certain family members.

Depending on the facts, qualifying conduct may include:

• Domestic violence
• Sexual assault
• Stalking
• Human trafficking
• Elder or dependent-adult abuse
• Other crimes involving injury, force, or threats

A survivor should not lose their housing simply because another person harmed them.

This can be especially important in Riverside County, where moving on short notice may mean leaving a support system, changing a child’s school, losing access to transportation, or trying to find another affordable rental in an already difficult housing market.

What Documentation May Help?

Some legal protections may require documentation showing that abuse or violence occurred. Depending on the situation, useful documentation may include:

• A restraining or protective order
• A police report
• A statement from a healthcare provider
• A statement from a domestic violence counselor or victim advocate
• Text messages, emails, photographs, recordings, or other records

Not every protection requires the same type of documentation. A tenant should not assume they have no options simply because they do not have a police report or court order.

Save whatever information is available and speak with a legal professional as soon as possible. An attorney can help determine which records matter and whether additional documentation may be needed.

What If the Person Causing Harm Lives in the Home?

These situations can be particularly complicated when the person responsible for the abuse is also listed on the lease or lives in the same household.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to remove the person responsible for the harmful conduct while allowing an eligible survivor or other household members to remain. In federally assisted housing, this is sometimes handled through a process known as lease bifurcation.

Other legal and safety measures may also be needed, including a restraining order, safety planning, or help relocating to another unit.

Does Federal Law Offer Additional Protection?

The federal Violence Against Women Act, commonly known as VAWA, provides housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

VAWA applies to many federally supported housing programs, including certain public housing, Section 8 housing, tax-credit properties, and other covered affordable-housing programs.

Depending on the housing program and circumstances, VAWA may protect a survivor from:

• Being denied admission because of abuse they experienced
• Being evicted because of conduct directly related to the abuse
• Losing rental assistance because they are a survivor
• Retaliation for asserting their rights

VAWA may also allow an eligible tenant to request an emergency transfer when remaining in the current home would present a threat of further harm.

These federal protections can be especially relevant for Riverside County residents who receive rental assistance or live in public, subsidized, or other covered affordable housing.

What Should You Do If You Receive an Eviction Notice?

If you receive an eviction notice after calling the police, reporting abuse, or requesting emergency assistance, do not ignore it.

Take the following steps as soon as possible:

• Save the eviction notice and every document from your landlord.
• Keep text messages, emails, photographs, police reports, and other records.
• Write down important dates and details while they are still fresh.
• Do not sign an agreement or move-out document you do not understand.
• Seek legal help quickly.

Eviction cases move fast. If a landlord files an unlawful detainer case in Riverside County Superior Court, the tenant may have only a short time to respond.

Receiving a notice does not automatically mean the landlord has the legal right to evict you. The notice may leave out important facts, and legal protections may apply even when they are not mentioned in the paperwork.

You Should Not Have to Choose Between Safety and Housing

No one should have to hesitate before calling 911 because they are afraid of becoming homeless.

For survivors and families across Riverside County, stable housing can be an important part of finding safety, protecting children, remaining connected to work and school, and beginning to move forward.

Understanding your rights is an important first step. Getting help early can make it easier to preserve evidence, respond to court papers, and identify protections that may apply to your situation.

Need Legal Help?

Riverside Legal Aid provides free legal services to eligible Riverside County residents facing eviction, housing instability, domestic violence, and other civil legal matters.

If you have received an eviction notice or believe your landlord is punishing you for seeking emergency help, visit our Legal Assistance page to learn more about available services.

You can also review our upcoming workshops and events for additional legal information and opportunities to connect with community resources.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or contact an appropriate emergency service.

This article provides general legal information and is not a substitute for advice from an attorney about your specific situation.