Damages plus statutory penalties
You may be able to recover compensation when a landlord's illegal harassment harms you, and in some cases the law adds penalties on top of your actual losses, though every situation is different and no outcome is guaranteed.
Depending on the facts, compensation might include your financial losses, damages for emotional distress caused by the harassment, and statutory penalties that certain laws provide for specific violations — for example, penalties for illegal lockouts or utility shutoffs, or per-violation penalties for prohibited tactics to make you move. If the harassment was especially serious or malicious, additional damages may be possible.
What you can recover depends on the type of conduct, how severe and repeated it was, the harm it caused, and which state and local laws apply. Good records — a detailed incident log, saved messages, photos, and any reports — are key to establishing your claim.
Because harassment claims can combine actual damages with statutory penalties, they can be significant. If you have been harassed by your landlord, a free, confidential review can look at your facts and explain whether you may be entitled to compensation.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.