Legal Question in Constitutional Law in California

I rent a house and the owners of the property are slum lords, every time something has to be repaired or replaced I have to hound the owners to get it taken care of, then if they do fix the problem they try to find the very cheapest way out of it, if the problem even gets taken care of, there is quite a bit more to this that has brought me to this thought of the banner. I've been thinking about hanging a banner out side of the house in the front stating that the owners are slum lords. Besides pissing of the owners with this, if I do it would I be in my constitutional right to do this as freedom of speech. What could or would the repercussions legal or not of this action be towards me if any from the owners besides maybe being asked to move out.


Asked on 1/09/12, 3:05 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Instead of hanging banners, search [California tenant repair deduct].

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Answered on 1/09/12, 3:08 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

The First Amendment only limits what the government can do. The government would not care what you write on a banner. It might enforce a rule against banners (either in general or of a certain type), but that would have nothing to do with what you write on it.

Your landlord is not bound by the First Amendment. He may have the right to evict you depending upon local ordinances and the terms of your rental agreement. If he does, your banner may be what makes him decide to exercise that right. It's also possible that hanging your banner will violate your rental agreement and give him the right to evict you even if he doesn't have that right already.

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Answered on 1/09/12, 4:01 pm


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