Ch 20 Test

Question 1

To change the terms of a periodic tenancy, a landlord must:

A. offer to compensate the tenants for any losses
B. give the tenants advance notice of the change
C. waive the rent for one month after the change
D. bring an unlawful detainer action

Answer 1

B. give the tenants advance notice of the change

Question 2

A residential lease must state the:

A. name, address, and telephone number of the landlord
B. name, address, and telephone number of the tenant
C. emergency contact person for the tenant
D. due date for rental payments

Answer 2

A. name, address, and telephone number of the landlord

Question 3

A tenant who transfers an entire leasehold estate to another party is a/an:

A. sublessee
B. sublessor
C. assignee
D. assignor

Answer 3

D. assignor

Question 4

When a landlord fails to fix problems with the property, in order to win a lawsuit for damages a tenant must show that:
A. the landlord has stopped collecting rent
B. the problem was not caused by the tenant or one of her guests
C. the tenant first tried to fix the problem herself
D. a guest of the tenant suffered injuries

Answer 4

B. the problem was not caused by the tenant or one of her guests

Question 5

A tenant may make alterations to the property:

A. and require the landlord to pay for the alterations
B. and leave the landlord to cover the cost of restoring its original condition when the tenancy ends
C. if the tenant is disabled and the modifications are necessary to accommodate the disability
D. unless the lease states otherwise

Answer 5

C. if the tenant is disabled and the modifications are necessary to accommodate the disability

Question 6

If one tenant is substituted for another in the novation of a lease, the novation releases:

A. the new tenant from liability to the landlord
B. the new tenant from liability to the old tenant
C. the old tenant from liability to the landlord
D. the landlord from liability to the new tenant

Answer 6

C. the old tenant from liability to the landlord

Question 7

A sublease is a transfer of:

A. a rental unit to a new tenant for only part of the lease term
B. only part of the rental unit to a new tenant
C. the entire tenancy for the remaining lease term
D. A or B

Answer 7

D. A or B

Question 8

The warranty of habitability requires that:

A. floors, stairways, and railings be maintained in good repair
B. the tenant waive his right to notice before entry by the landlord
C. the landlord not alter the property
D. there are undisclosed material facts about the property

Answer 8

A. floors, stairways, and railings be maintained in good repair

Question 9

If a landlord sells his property to a third party:

A. the tenant’s security deposit must always be returned to the tenant
B. the tenant must give the new landlord an additional security deposit
C. the landlord usually transfers the tenant’s security deposit to the new owner
D. the former landlord is allowed to keep the tenant’s security deposit

Answer 9

C. the landlord usually transfers the tenant’s security deposit to the new owner

Question 10

A security deposit:

A. must be the same whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished
B. may be labeled a nonrefundable cleaning fee
C. may be kept by the landlord to cover unpaid rent
D. can be an amount up to six months’ rent

Answer 10

C. may be kept by the landlord to cover unpaid rent

Question 11

One of the tenant’s responsibilities for a leased property is:

A. the covenant of quiet enjoyment
B. to use the various parts of the premises as intended
C. the warranty of habitability
D. to repair significant defects with the property

Answer 11

B. to use the various parts of the premises as intended

Question 12

An apartment building will not be subject to rent control if:

A. it is more than 15 years old
B. it is less than 15 years old
C. the landlord demolishes the building and constructs a new one within five years
D. the rent control law allows the landlord a reasonable return on investment

Answer 12

B. it is less than 15 years old

Question 13

After the tenant vacates a residential unit, the landlord must return the tenant’s security deposit within:

A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 21 days
D. 28 days

Answer 13

C. 21 days

Question 14

Nina, who has been living in her apartment for two years, decides to move to a new place. She is in a month-to-month tenancy, so how much notice does she need to give her landlord?

A. 7 days
B. 15 days
C. 30 days
D. 60 days

Answer 14

C. 30 days

Question 15

For residential tenants, a requirement for claiming constructive eviction is that:

A. the landlord’s neglect substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of the premises
B. the tenant moves out of the property
C. the tenant continues to pay rent
D. the landlord brings an unlawful detainer action

Answer 15

A. the landlord’s neglect substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of the premises

Question 16

The landlord has an obligation to disclose:

A. the race of the previous tenant
B. how much rent the last tenant was paying
C. how many previous tenants have claimed constructive eviction
D. if another tenant died on the property within the preceding three years

Answer 16

D. if another tenant died on the property within the preceding three years

Question 17

Which of the following does not meet the criteria for a just cause eviction?

A. Participation in formation of a tenants’ union
B. Failure to pay rent
C. Using the premises illegally
D. Substantially interfering with another tenant’s quiet enjoyment

Answer 17

A. Participation in formation of a tenants’ union

Question 18

A rent increase is presumed to be retaliatory if it occurs within six months after:

A. a previous rent increase
B. the passage of a rent control ordinance
C. the tenant has a public agency inspect the property
D. a guest of the tenant is injured on the property

Answer 18

C. the tenant has a public agency inspect the property

Question 19

A tenant notifies his landlord of a serious problem with the property, which will cost about $10,000 to repair, and the landlord fails to fix it. The tenant can:
A. waive the warranty of habitability
B. withhold rent until the landlord fixes the problem
C. claim retaliatory eviction
D. refuse to allow the landlord to enter the property

Answer 19

B. withhold rent until the landlord fixes the problem

Question 20

A tenant abandons a lease, leaving behind some personal belongings on the premises. If the tenant does not claim this personal property, it must be:

A. sold at a public auction if the property is worth $700 or more
B. given to the next tenant to occupy the property
C. taken to a landfill
D. left on the premises until the tenant returns

Answer 20

A. sold at a public auction if the property is worth $700 or more