When harassment is also retaliation
No. When a landlord responds to a tenant's protected activity with intimidation, threats, or other abusive conduct, that harassment can itself be a form of unlawful retaliation — on top of any separate harassment protections.
Retaliation does not only take the form of rent hikes and eviction notices. A landlord who starts intimidating a tenant, making threats, or creating a hostile living situation because the tenant complained or asserted a right may be retaliating. The motive — punishing the tenant for standing up for themselves — is what makes it unlawful retaliation, and the same conduct may violate other tenant-protection laws too.
Because this kind of behavior often overlaps with broader harassment rules, tenants in this situation may have several protections at once, which can strengthen their position.
Document each incident carefully — dates, what happened, and how it connected to your protected activity — and save any messages. If your landlord began harassing or intimidating you after you exercised a right, that is a serious matter. A free, confidential review can explain how retaliation and harassment protections may apply to your situation.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.