Your protection against retaliatory eviction
No. California law prohibits retaliatory eviction, so a landlord generally cannot lawfully evict or punish you just because you reported a no-hot-water problem or asked for repairs.
Retaliation can look like a sudden eviction notice, a rent increase, or reduced services soon after you complained. The timing often tells the story — action taken shortly after you reported the outage may be unlawful. A landlord can still end a tenancy for a lawful, unrelated reason, but using an eviction to punish you for asserting your habitability rights is not allowed.
Your best protection is a clear record: keep copies of when you reported the hot-water problem and note anything the landlord did afterward. If you have received an eviction notice or threats after reporting no hot water, these matters are time-sensitive — talk to an attorney promptly, and a free review can help.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.