California courts and lawmakers have been busy on housing issues this year. Here are three recent developments that may affect seniors and other renters in our community.
- Courts Must Play by the Rules When Reviewing Housing Agency Decisions
A California appeals court recently clarified that when a court reviews a housing agency’s decision, it can only evaluate the reasons the agency actually gave – it cannot invent new justifications to save a flawed decision. If the agency’s stated basis for terminating someone’s benefits doesn’t hold up, the termination doesn’t hold up either.
What this may mean for you: If you receive Section 8 or other housing assistance and face termination of benefits, you have the right to a fair hearing, and any decision to end your assistance must be based on findings that are actually supported by the evidence presented at that hearing.
Source: Summary based on Harrington v. Housing Authority of Riverside County (2026) 118 Cal.App.5th 1086, as reported by CEB (California Continuing Education of the Bar).
- Emergency Rent Caps: How They’re Calculated Matters
After major wildfires triggered a state of emergency in Sonoma County lasting from 2017 to 2021, a dispute arose over how California’s emergency rent cap works. A mobilehome park owner argued that local rent control increases should still apply during the emergency, and that once it ended, they could “catch up” on years of frozen increases.
A state appeals court said no to both. The 10% emergency cap is measured from rent levels at the time the emergency was declared, and landlords don’t get to recoup missed increases after it ends – that would defeat the whole point of the law.
What this may mean for you: If you live in a mobilehome park or rent in an area that has experienced a declared state of emergency, your landlord’s ability to raise your rent during that period is strictly limited, and those limits cannot simply be “made up for” after the emergency ends.
Source: Summary based on Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association v. City of Santa Rosa (2026) 119 Cal.App.5th 1275, as reported by CEB.
- New Bills Would Protect Immigrant Tenants and Courthouse Access
Three bills moving through the California Legislature this year could have significant impacts on immigrant community members, including those who rent their homes.
- SB 873 would prohibit arrests of people traveling to or from a courthouse for lawful purposes, and would require federal immigration officers to present a valid judicial warrant before making an arrest at a courthouse. This would allow people – including tenants fighting evictions – to appear in court without fear of being detained.
- SB 915 would set clearer rules for how hospitals and health clinics handle the presence of immigration enforcement officers, aiming to protect patients’ privacy and ensure they can receive care without interference.
- SB 1243 (the Tenant Protections for Immigrant Families Act of 2026) would give tenants a temporary defense against eviction for nonpayment of rent if the nonpayment was caused by immigration enforcement. The protection period under the bill is 90 days following the end of enforcement activity.
These bills passed the California Senate Judiciary Committee in April 2026 and were moving through the legislative process as of this writing. Like other recent California immigration protection laws, they may face legal challenges.
What this may mean for you: If you or a family member has concerns about accessing the courts or paying rent due to immigration enforcement activity, these bills – if signed into law – could provide important protections. Stay tuned for updates.
Source: Summary based on reporting by CEB on California SB 873, SB 915, and SB 1243 (2026 legislative session).
Need Help With a Housing Issue?
If you have questions about your rights as a renter – including Section 8 assistance, rent increases, or eviction – contact us. Our attorneys provide free legal help to qualifying seniors and low-income residents in Contra Costa County.
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services https://www.ccsls.org/ (925) 609-7900
This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and pending legislation are subject to change. If you have a specific legal problem, please contact an attorney.
