For free help with a landlord problem anywhere in California, call the statewide California tenant rights hotline at (888) 495-8020, run by Tenants Together. Counselors answer general questions about state landlord-tenant law, though they stop short of formal legal advice. You can also text “HELPLINE” to 650-600-7821 for written information.1Tenants Together. Statewide Tenants’ Rights Hotline If your issue is housing discrimination, subsidized housing, or a problem specific to your city’s rent board, a different number will serve you better.
Statewide and Federal Numbers
Match the number to the problem. Using the wrong line usually means a referral and a second call.
- General landlord-tenant questions: Statewide Tenants’ Rights Hotline, (888) 495-8020.1Tenants Together. Statewide Tenants’ Rights Hotline
- Housing discrimination (state): California Civil Rights Department, 800-884-1684 voice, 800-700-2320 TTY. CRD enforces the Fair Employment and Housing Act, investigates claims, and can seek remedies on your behalf.2California Civil Rights Department. Housing
- Housing discrimination (federal): HUD, 1-800-669-9777. HUD investigates complaints filed within one year of the alleged discrimination and is required to complete each investigation within 100 days, though extensions are common. Filing with one agency does not prevent you from filing with the other.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 36104U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Report Housing Discrimination
- HUD-insured or HUD-assisted multifamily housing complaints: 1-800-685-8470, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, for maintenance, health hazards, and management problems in federally connected properties.5U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Multifamily Housing – Complaint Line
- Not sure where to start: dial 211. It’s free, confidential, and runs 24 hours a day, with referrals for tenant counseling, rent assistance, discrimination resources, and emergency shelter.6211 Bay Area. Housing and Homeless Services
- Lawyer referral: the California Attorney General’s housing page points tenants to LawHelpCA.org for local legal aid and to the State Bar’s referral service. The State Bar connects you with certified referral services rather than legal aid directly, so some referrals may involve a consultation fee.7California Department of Justice. Housing8The State Bar of California. Find a Lawyer Referral Service
City and Regional Hotlines
Many California cities have their own rent boards and tenant unions with dedicated lines. Local protections often go beyond state law, so if you live in a rent-stabilized city, call the local number first.
- Los Angeles: Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, (800) 399-4529; Coalition for Economic Survival, (213) 252-4411; L.A. Tenants Union, 213-986-8266.
- San Francisco: SF Tenants Union, (415) 282-6622; Housing Rights Committee, (415) 703-8644; San Francisco Rent Board, (415) 252-4602.
- Oakland: Oakland Tenants Union, (510) 704-5276; Eviction Defense Center, (510) 452-4541; Centro Legal de la Raza, (510) 437-1554.
- Berkeley: Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, (510) 981-7368; Berkeley Tenants Union, (520) 982-6696.
- Richmond: Richmond Rent Board, (510) 234-7368.
Local lines are especially useful when your dispute involves a stricter local rent-increase cap, relocation payments for a no-fault eviction, or an administrative filing with a local rent board.1Tenants Together. Statewide Tenants’ Rights Hotline
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Counselors can only help with the facts you give them. Pull together a few things before you dial.
Have your lease in front of you, with the landlord’s or management company’s name exactly as it appears. Note any lease terms about rent increases, late fees, utilities, and maintenance so you can point to specific language.
If you’ve received an eviction notice, check the type and date. A three-day notice for unpaid rent must state the amount owed and give the name, phone number, and address of the person who can accept payment.9California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 1161 Missing or wrong information on the notice may be a defense, and the counselor will want to see it.
Keep a running log of every contact with your landlord: dates, times, what was said, and whether it was a call, text, email, or in-person. Timestamped photos of habitability problems, copies of repair requests, and any written responses all strengthen your case. If you’ve filed with code enforcement or another agency, have the complaint number and inspection reports ready. The more specific your documentation, the more targeted the advice.
What Happens When You Call
Most hotlines start with an intake. You’ll usually navigate a short automated menu, then speak with a volunteer or receptionist who takes a summary of your situation and routes it. Call volumes are high, so you may need to leave a message and wait for a callback. Say upfront if your issue is time-sensitive. Eviction deadlines get prioritized.
The counselor will usually explain your rights under state law, name the statutes that apply, and outline next steps. That might be a referral to a pro bono attorney, help drafting a demand letter, or guidance on filing with a local rent board. Some hotlines, especially tenant unions, give information and coaching but not formal legal advice.
If you need a free attorney, eligibility usually depends on income. Most legal aid organizations use the federal poverty guidelines, serving households at up to 125% or 200% of those thresholds. For 2026, 125% of the federal poverty level is $19,950 for a single person and $41,250 for a family of four. At 200%, those figures are $31,920 and $66,000. Each organization sets its own cutoff, so ask when you call.
If You’ve Been Served With an Eviction Lawsuit, Call Now
When your landlord files an unlawful detainer, deadlines are extremely tight. If you were personally handed the papers, you have 10 court days (excluding weekends and court holidays) to file a written response. If you were served by substituted service or posting, you have 20 calendar days from the date the papers were mailed.10California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 1167 Miss the deadline and the landlord can win by default without a hearing.
Two organizations specialize in these cases: the Eviction Defense Collaborative in San Francisco at 415-947-0797, and the Eviction Defense Network in Los Angeles at 213-385-8112.1Tenants Together. Statewide Tenants’ Rights Hotline If you qualify for pro bono representation, they can sometimes assign an attorney to appear in court with you. Call the day the papers arrive.
If You’ve Been Locked Out or Had Utilities Shut Off
California law prohibits a landlord from intentionally shutting off your utilities, changing your locks, removing doors or windows, or taking your personal property to force you out. If any of that is happening, call a hotline immediately. These calls get prioritized. You can sue for actual damages plus up to $100 for each day the violation continues, with a minimum award of $250 per incident, and the court must award reasonable attorney’s fees to the winning party.11California Legislative Information. California Civil Code 789-3
Subsidized Housing Tenants
If you hold a Section 8 voucher and your housing authority moves to terminate your assistance, you have the right to an informal hearing before the termination takes effect. The housing authority must give you notice and the chance to present your case, dispute the evidence, and explain your side.12eCFR. 24 CFR 982.555 – Informal Hearing for Participant A hotline counselor or legal aid attorney can help you prepare.
Residents of HUD-insured or HUD-assisted multifamily properties can report maintenance, safety, and management problems directly to the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line at 1-800-685-8470.5U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Multifamily Housing – Complaint Line One boundary worth knowing: the statewide Tenant Protection Act’s just-cause eviction rules do not apply to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, because those are governed by a recorded regulatory agreement, and LIHTC rent is set by federal formulas tied to area median income rather than the statewide cap. State and local laws may still give you some protections, so a counselor is still worth calling.