Unlawful detainer: right to redeem tenancy.

Senator Wahab's Right to Redeem Act establishes new requirements for California courts to restore residential tenancies when tenants pay overdue rent or secure rental assistance, removing the current requirement that tenants demonstrate hardship to avoid eviction.

The legislation requires courts to maintain tenants' occupancy if they either pay all rent in arrears or provide documentation of approved rental assistance sufficient to cover the amount due. Tenants may submit these payments or documentation to the landlord, their agent, or directly to the court at any point before being physically removed from the premises. Landlords must then request dismissal of any pending eviction action, or courts must dismiss the case upon evidence of the tenant's compliance.

The bill mandates that eviction notices include information about tenants' right to preserve their tenancy through payment or rental assistance. It also requires landlords to cooperate with rental assistance programs by providing necessary documentation. Any lease provisions attempting to waive these tenant protections would be void under the legislation. The Judicial Council must develop an optional form for tenants to request this relief.

These changes apply to residential tenancies and operate alongside existing tenant protections, with provisions taking effect February 1, 2025. The legislation maintains current timelines requiring landlords to provide at least three days' notice, excluding weekends and holidays, before initiating eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent.