Relocation and rent when a home is unusable
If a sewage problem makes your home unsafe or unusable during cleanup and repairs, you may not have to keep living in it, and questions about temporary relocation or rent can come up. What applies depends on how severe the conditions are.
When sewage contamination or the repairs make part or all of a unit unusable, staying there can be unsafe. Depending on the situation, a tenant may be entitled to consideration around relocation or a reduction in rent for the time the home was uninhabitable — but the specifics vary, and it is easy to give up rights by accident.
Document the conditions, and do not sign anything about relocation, rent, or releasing claims without understanding it first. If a sewage problem is forcing you out of your home and you are unsure of your rights, a free, confidential review can help.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.