Victims of abuse or violence: reasonable accommodations.

Assembly Member Kalra's tenant protection legislation would require California landlords to provide reasonable accommodations for renters who are victims of abuse or violence, establishing specific procedures for requesting and implementing safety-related changes to rental units and lease terms.

The bill defines reasonable accommodations to include unit transfers, security camera installations, extended payment periods, and documentation assistance. Upon receiving an accommodation request, landlords must engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with the tenant within five days, taking into account any immediate safety concerns. Tenants can make requests verbally or in writing at any point during their tenancy, without needing to use specific terminology.

While landlords may request documentation of victim status, they must maintain strict confidentiality of any materials received, sharing information only when legally required or explicitly authorized by the tenant. The legislation prohibits retaliation against tenants who request accommodations and establishes civil penalties of $100 to $5,000 plus actual damages for violations. Landlords retain the right to deny requests that would impose undue hardship as defined in existing state law.

The measure builds upon current requirements for changing locks at abuse victims' request by creating a broader framework for safety-related accommodations. It applies to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse, and crimes involving bodily injury, deadly weapons, or threats of force.