FAQ Topic: Just Cause - Tenants
Lease terms under one year: Your landlord can choose to evict you if your lease term is less than one year and your landlord had previously occupied the unit and wants to return. Your landlord is not required to provide any relocation payments. Protections for school age children and educators: You cannot be evicted for … Continued
Under the law, a tenant may be evicted if their landlord seeks to permanently withdraw their rental unit from the rental market (i.e. go out of business) as permitted by the Ellis Act. These are often referred to as “Ellis Act Evictions.” If you are subject to an Ellis Act Eviction, you are entitled to … Continued
Under the ordinance, a tenant may be evicted if their landlord—or their landlord’s family member or caregiver —seeks, in good faith, to occupy the unit as their primary residence. This is referred to as an “Owner Move-In.” Your landlord can not pursue an eviction for an Owner Move-In if any of the following are true: … Continued
A landlord can evict you if the repairs are such that it would require you to vacate your unit for more than 30 days. However, your landlord must meet certain requirements. The repairs must be necessary to address certain health and safety violations and your landlord must acquire permits before you are served with a … Continued
Short-Term Relocation Payments If you are temporarily displaced for 30 days or less due to the need for repairs or renovation work (Example: termite tenting), your landlord is required to immediately provide the short-term relocation payments in the amount of $190 for each day of displacement. If you accept these short-term relocation payments, you must … Continued
Your landlord may still legally evict you for the following just causes: Failure to pay rent Breach of lease, but see below for sublessee exceptions Creating a nuisance or damaging the unit Conviction of serious crime that occurred during tenancy and within 1,000 ft. of the unit Threatening commission of a violent crime to anyone … Continued
Fairfax’s ordinance will cover most tenants. However, there are several exclusions from the law. If your rental unit falls into one of the following categories, Fairfax’s Just Cause Evictions Ordinance does not protect your tenancy: Dorm rooms Mobile homes in mobile home parks Hotel rooms and short-term rentals, if you stayed in the unit for … Continued
The original ordinance went into effect on 12/2/22. The ordinance has been revised and the revisions went into effect on 10/6/23.
Fairfax’s Just Cause Evictions Ordinance protects you from arbitrary eviction. In order to be evicted from your rental unit, your landlord must have a just cause. If you are evicted for a “no-fault” just cause, you are entitled to relocation payments and you may have the right to return to your unit under certain circumstances, … Continued