Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.2
California Civil Code
Operative Text
A tenant who has made a payment to a utility pursuant to Section 777, 777.1, 10009, 10009.1, 12822, 12822.1, 16481, or 16481.1 of the Public Utilities Code, or to a district pursuant to Section 60371 of the Government Code, may deduct the payment from the rent as provided in that section.
California Civil Code § 1942.2 establishes that when a tenant has made a direct payment to a utility provider or a district under specific provisions of the Public Utilities Code or Government Code, that payment may be subtracted from the rent otherwise owed to the landlord. The rule effectively prevents a tenant from being required to pay twice — once to the utility and once to the landlord — for the same utility service. The deduction is governed by the terms set out in the underlying utility-code sections that authorized the direct payment in the first place.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.2, a compliant operator recognizes that certain direct utility payments made by a tenant to a utility provider or district carry a corresponding right to reduce rent by that amount. Property managers generally track whether any such payments have been made under the referenced Public Utilities Code or Government Code sections so that rent accounting reflects any authorized deductions. Maintaining clear records of utility billing arrangements and any tenant-initiated utility payments helps avoid disputes over whether a rent shortfall is actually a lawful deduction.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.2 gives tenants who have paid a utility provider or district directly — under the specific Public Utilities Code or Government Code sections listed in the provision — the right to deduct that amount from their rent. If a landlord treats such a deduction as an unpaid rent balance, a tenant may be able to raise the statutory deduction as a defense in an eviction or collection proceeding. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for guidance on documenting the payment and understanding the relevant utility-code sections.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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