Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Unfortunately, you did not indicate if this is in a mobile home park, or on privately owned land she is leasing. There may be a very big difference. As for the increase in rent, did they specifically indicate that it was due to the additional tenant moving in? When they put you on the lease, is that when they told you that they were increasing the rent? If not, then they have the right (absent rent control) to raise the rent once a year. They have probably been doing it since she bought the home. If the increase is specifically because you moved in and the home is in a mobile home park, then you need to look at the Mobile Home Residency Law - (California Civil Code �798, et seq.), and rules regarding fees and guests.

Specifically, you want to look at Sections 798.34 and 798.35. Section 798.34 prohibits the park from charging more rent for a guest. You no longer fit the definition of a guest if you are now on the lease. I also do not see where any of the other exceptions apply to your situation. Section 798.35 prohibits charging additional rent for members of the home owner's "immediate" family. You again, as her brother, technically don't meet the definition in the code of her "immediate" family. Because the law only prohibits increased rent under these limited circumstances, it is pretty safe to say that they CAN charge an increase where you don't fit these exceptions. Without being retained, however, I have not reviewed the cases that interpret these sections, nor have I dug deeper into the MRL (which may have applicable pieces of law buried elsewhere). You would need to retain someone, and provide many more facts before a conclusion could be reached upon which you can rely and fight the increase.

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