Uninhabitable living conditions...?

[otis]

is it considered "uninhabitable living conditions" (under California rental law) if you live in a multi-family house i.e Maisonette, where other tenants are involved in illegal activities?

[wynn]

None of their activities would make the place uninhabitable. Only the health department and the building department have the legal right to red tag the place.

No hot water and the landlord refusing to provide hot water are uninhabitable. No locking doors to the outside (again landlord has to refuse to provide a door) make it uninhabitable. No heater (another that the landlord has to refuse), or no floor (down to the dirt). Mold also can, the health department comes and tests and they make that call.

The police handle neighbors, not the building or health department.

[ludano17]

No; legality is the responsibility of the police, not your landlord.

Certainly, illegal activities can make the rental unit undesirable, but not uninhabitable. In CA, a unit is considered uninhabitable if there is no hot water, no heat, no working stovetop burners, or some other major structural problem (ie no roof). It has nothing to do with the activities of others.

[jerrick]

Yes if the illegal activity conflicts with safe living conditions.

[blaisdell]

is it affecting your health to live in such conditions?