California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a settlement against two landlords and their property management company, Bosanek Enterprises (operating as Heritage Property Management Services), over allegations of violating California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA) by unlawfully evicting tenants in Marysville. The TPA, co-authored by Bonta during his tenure as a state assemblymember and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, provides significant protections for tenants including limiting rent increases and prohibiting evictions without just cause.
Effective April 1, 2024, Senate Bill 567 (SB 567) strengthened the TPA’s protections, introduced new remedies for violations, and granted city attorneys and county counsel explicit authority to enforce the TPA directly. As part of the settlement announced today, the defendants will pay $40,500 total—$36,500 in restitution to three affected tenants—and take specific actions to ensure compliance with the TPA.
“Millions of Californians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Today’s settlement underscores my office’s ongoing commitment to protecting renters, and I want to thank California Rural Legal Assistance for providing assistance in this matter,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We will continue to investigate and pursue violations of the Tenant Protection Act when appropriate. I urge local enforcers, including city attorneys and county counsel throughout the state, to do the same.”
The California Department of Justice launched an investigation following a credible complaint from California Rural Legal Assistance regarding a potentially unlawful eviction. The investigation revealed that one landlord issued an eviction notice under false pretenses, claiming just cause due to an uncle intending to move into the unit—a relative not covered under TPA's specified list. Furthermore, no relative moved in; instead, the unit was rented out at a significantly higher rate.
Additionally, another landlord working with Heritage Property Management Services issued two eviction notices citing substantial remodels as just cause. However, investigations determined that the remodeling did not meet TPA requirements for tenant eviction since it did not involve major structural or system modifications necessitating tenant displacement for at least 30 days.
Under today's court-approval-pending settlement terms:
- Defendants will pay $36,500 in restitution.
- An additional $4,000 in penalties.
- Imposition of injunctive terms designed to prevent future misconduct includes reporting obligations on all defendants and requiring Heritage Property Management Services employees' training on state rental housing laws.
Attorney General Bonta remains dedicated to enforcing tenant protection laws. Earlier this year he secured settlements with other landlords for similar violations involving unlawful evictions and rent increases. On May 22, 2024, he issued an information bulletin about SB 567’s enhanced protections and enforcement authority.
The Housing Justice Team at the California Department of Justice encourages Californians with housing-related complaints or tips to contact housing@doj.ca.gov. Tenants seeking legal aid can find resources at www.LawHelpCA.org.
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