In the City of Los Angeles, the honest answer is: they could, and you'd need a legal reason to make them leave. Under LA's Just Cause Ordinance, tenant protections attach when the original lease expires or after six months, whichever comes first. Lease expiration on its own isn't a valid reason to end a tenancy. Most mid-term renters leave on schedule because their job or assignment ends, but you should understand the rule before you hand over keys.
When protections start
Once a stay is longer than 30 days, your guest is a tenant, not a hotel guest. Which LA law applies depends on the building:
- Just Cause Ordinance (JCO): covers most rentals that aren't rent-stabilized, including newer buildings and single-family homes. According to LAHD, it applies once the tenant has lived in the unit at least six months or the original lease has expired, whichever comes first.
- Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO): generally covers buildings with two or more units first built on or before October 1, 1978. RSO units come with just-cause eviction rules and rent limits.
What this means in practice: say you rent a furnished unit on a three-month lease. During those three months, these extra protections don’t apply yet. On the day the lease ends, they kick in. If your tenant doesn’t move out, you can’t make them leave just because the lease is over. You’d need one of the specific reasons listed below.
What counts as just cause
LAHD lists the reasons a landlord can end a JCO tenancy:
| Type | Reasons on LAHD's list | Relocation assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant at fault | Unpaid rent · uncured lease violation · nuisance or damage · illegal use · refusing to sign a similar new lease · refusing reasonable access · unapproved subtenant at the end of the term | Not owed |
| No fault | Owner or immediate family moving in · required resident manager moving in · demolition or removal from the rental market · government order to vacate · a few other narrow cases | May be owed |
"The lease term is over" isn't on either list.
Two more rules matter:
- Nonpayment has a floor. Since March 27, 2023, LAHD says a landlord can't evict over unpaid rent unless the amount owed exceeds the Fair Market Rent for the unit size.
- Every eviction notice must be filed with LAHD within three business days of serving it.
How careful owners reduce the risk
None of these replace legal advice, but they're common practice:
Platforms built for monthly stays can help with the screening side. Keyseason, for example, verifies renter IDs and offers renter-paid screening reports, though no platform changes what LA law requires.
General information, not legal advice.
Does this apply in Redondo Beach, Torrance or Santa Monica?
No. The JCO and RSO are City of LA laws. Other cities follow state law (AB 1482, which generally starts after 12 months of occupancy) and any local rules of their own.
Can I just write "no tenancy rights" in the lease?
No. Tenant protections generally can't be waived by contract. Talk to an attorney.
Do I need to register a furnished unit with LAHD?
LAHD says all properties rented or offered for rent must be registered annually, with a rent registry filing.