Local relocation rules vary widely
You might be, depending on where you live. In a number of California cities, when tenants are displaced from an unpermitted unit through no fault of their own — for example, because the city ordered it vacated — the landlord may be required to pay relocation assistance.
These relocation rules are local, not statewide, so whether they apply, and how much a landlord owes, depends on your city or county ordinance. Some places have specific relocation payment amounts and procedures; others do not. The reason many of these rules exist is that it seems unfair for a tenant to bear the cost of a landlord's decision to rent an unlawful unit.
Because this varies so much by location, it is worth checking your local rules and confirming what you may be owed before accepting a landlord's version of events.
If you are being displaced from an illegal unit and are unsure whether you are entitled to relocation help, do not assume the answer is no. A free, confidential review can help you understand what may apply where you live and how to pursue it.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.