Blake

City: 
Petaluma
Residence Type: 
Single unit
Landlord Type: 
Private Landlord -- No Rent Control

After 15 years of renting in the same location our landlord is threatening us with eviction proceedings if we do not get rid of our family pet (a single cat). We got the cat 4 months ago as a service animal after my daughters therapist suggested it could be helpful to combat her increasing anxiety.

The landlord discovered pictures of the cat by searching on social media. We are not "friends" with him on social media. He actually "searched us up" and then originally demanded we get rid of the cat within 72 hours or face eviction proceedings. Now (24 hours later) he says that even if we get rid of the cat we will face a significant rental increase because our rental agreement states that we can only have 3 tenants in the home. We have four people in our family (husband, wife & two children) and our youngest is 14 years old. This issue has never been raised in the 15 years we have lived here; but suddenly now it's a factor.

Based on the last 24 hours our landlord seems determined to get us out of this house so that he can raise the rent to whatever he wants for "new" tenants.

Can anyone advise me of my rights in this situation?

Help build power for renters' rights: