Section 17031.6 Of Chapter 3. Permits And Fees From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 13. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3.
17031.6
. (a) In any action brought pursuant to Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 1159) of Title 3 of Part 3 of the Code of
Civil Procedure, in order to evict a tenant from employee housing,
this section shall apply to that proceeding, notwithstanding any
other provision of law including, but not limited to, Section 1170.5
of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b) If, in an action subject to this section, a tenant alleges
both of the following in an answer or other response to an unlawful
detainer action, the trial on that action shall be set not earlier
than 30 days from the date of filing the answer, and in no event
prior to the completion of reasonable and diligently pursued
discovery, as determined by the court, unless both parties stipulate
to an earlier date:
(1) The tenant is not guilty of unlawful detainer because he or
she has engaged in protected activity pursuant to Section 1942.5 of
the Civil Code or Section 17031.5 of this code.
(2) The landlord's claim that the eviction is to allow the
landlord to remove the subject rental unit from use as employee
housing or from the market in order to rehabilitate or demolish it is
a pretext to retaliate against the tenant.
(c) If, in an action subject to this section, a tenant alleged
that he or she is not guilty of unlawful detainer because he or she
has engaged in protected activity pursuant to Section 1942.5 of the
Civil Code or Section 17031.5, and the landlord alleges or introduces
evidence at trial that the purpose of the eviction is to allow the
landlord to remove the subject rental unit from use as employee
housing or from the market in order to rehabilitate or demolish it,
the court shall immediately continue the trial for not less than 30
days, unless both parties stipulate to a waiver of this requirement.
(d) (1) If, pursuant to this section, a trial is delayed or
continued, the court, may, upon a noticed motion for a payment order
by the lessor, order the monthly payment of the reasonable monthly
rental value to the court, if rent were otherwise due, as a condition
of issuing the delay or continuance order.
(2) "Reasonable monthly rental value," as used in this
subdivision, means the amount determined by the court after deducting
from the contract rent any set offs, including, but not limited to,
a reduction in the rent because the dwelling is partially or
completely untenantable or rent abatements due to the tenant or
lessee. In addition, in determining whether to order the payment of a
reasonable monthly rental value to the court, or in ascertaining its
amount, the court shall consider the probability of the tenant or
lessee prevailing in the trial, the financial ability of the tenant
or lessee to maintain this action, and any other factor relevant to
the proposed payment order.