Fighting for Tenants Rights

Serving All of California

WHAT WE DO

Practice Areas

Habitability
We represent tenants living in substandard conditions. This may include:
Cockroaches
Bed bugs
Rodents
No heat or water
Electrical problems
Leaking or falling ceilings
Gas leaks
Housing Discrimination
We fight for equal access to housing for all. Examples of discrimination may include:
Overly restrictive rules that limit daily life such as where children can play
Refusal to make reasonable accommodations to housing rules to afford a disabled person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling
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OUR STAFF

Meet The Team

Chandra Spencer

Partner
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Margaret Elder

Partner
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David Elder

Of Counsel
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Lanetta Rinehart

Of Counsel
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FAQ

Any Questions?

Housing discrimination is illegal under both federal law (Fair Housing Act, U.S. Code § 3601) and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Tenants are protected from experiencing housing discrimination based on:

  • Gender
  • Religion
  • Disability
  • Race, color, or national origin
  • Sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Familial status (such as being a parent)

Housing discrimination can play out in various ways, such as:

  • A landlord imposing strict rules on where children are allowed to play
  • A landlord refusing to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities
  • A landlord denying applications or unjustly evicting tenants based on a protected characteristic

Our skilled attorneys help tenants file complaints with the appropriate agencies, represent the tenant in negotiations or court, and work to secure a positive legal result.

California landlords must provide safe and livable housing to their tenants, including maintaining functional utilities and addressing health or safety risks. Even so, some landlords fail to comply, leaving tenants to deal with:

  • Electrical problems
  • Leaking or falling ceilings
  • No access to heat or hot water
  • Sewage backups or plumbing issues
  • Gas leaks or other hazardous conditions
  • Pest infestations (e.g., cockroaches, bed bugs, rodents)

California protects tenants’ rights to habitable living conditions under the implied warranty of habitability, governed by California Civil Code § 1941.1 (2023). If a landlord fails to address habitability issues after proper notification, a tenant has the right to pursue legal action.

Our team of qualified California attorneys help tenants understand their rights, navigate complex landlord-tenant disputes, and take legal action to hold negligent landlords accountable.

We serve clients throughout California, including but not limited to Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, the Inland Empire, the Central Valley, and the Bay Area.

The timeline for a legal case varies depending on its complexity, the cooperation of all parties involved, and the court's schedule. At Elder & Spencer, we work diligently to resolve your case as efficiently as possible while always prioritizing the best outcome for you. We will keep you informed every step of the way.

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TESTIMONIALS

What They Say About Us

After dealing with unsafe and unacceptable living conditions for over 10 years, it’s incredibly validating to finally work with a legal team that understands both the legal complexities and the human impact this has had on my family.
– Veronica
5 stars plus! Elder & Spencer went above and beyond any expectations in a situation with an unscrupulous landlord. I would have been lost without them. Kudos to Margaret and team. They are the best and I am forever grateful.
– Gayle
Our family is very grateful for Elder and Spencer LLP and everyone who worked on our case. They’ve made us feel that we matter and understood our rights. Patience is key but worth every time waiting for justice.
– J.
Chandra and her team are the absolute best! Throughout the life of my case, she was very professional, tact, empathetic, knowledgeable and all the great things that you could ask for when looking to get a sense of resolution for a difficult situation.
– Paul
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Copyright © Elder & Spencer, LLP. 2026. All Rights Reserved.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different. We offer free case evaluations, and no attorney’s fees are owed unless we recover compensation; clients may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses. Recognitions by third-party legal directories are based on their own criteria and do not imply specialization or certification. Descriptions of practice areas do not constitute certification or specialization unless expressly stated. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any government agency.

David Elder

Of Counsel
David Elder earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree from the University of Louisville before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law.

He began his career in criminal defense, where he developed strong advocacy and trial skills before transitioning to civil litigation. Mr. Elder now brings that experience to housing law, fighting to protect the rights of tenants across California.

Lanetta Rinehart

Of Counsel
Lanetta Rinehart earned her law degree from Loyola Law School in 2000, graduating near the top of her class. Even before becoming licensed, she served as a certified law clerk, representing hundreds of tenants in habitability cases, an experience that sparked a lifelong commitment to housing rights.

Over the past two decades, Ms. Rinehart has handled habitability matters involving thousands of tenants in every county in California. She has tried cases involving habitability and environmental exposure in San Francisco, Bakersfield, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, and San Diego.

Ms. Rinehart has studied under top national experts in exposure claims involving mold, pests, pesticides, asbestos, bromine, and other environmental agents. She has lectured on landlord-tenant law, negotiating habitability cases, and environmental exposures, and her work has been published in magazines.

Chandra Spencer

Partner
In 2007, Chandra Spencer founded her own law practice to provide quality legal representation to tenants and protect their housing rights. In 2013, she partnered with Margaret Elder to form Elder & Spencer LLP, expanding their impact across California.

Ms. Spencer earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1996, along with a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from California Lutheran University in 1994.

Chandra is a Board Member of the Consumer Attorneys of California and is the Community Service Chairwoman for the Women’s Caucus. Chandra is also an Executive Board Member for the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, and will be their President in 2028.

Outside of work, Ms. Spencer enjoys SCUBA diving, traveling, and spending time with her family and three dogs.

Margaret Elder

Partner
With over 30 years of experience in housing law, Margaret Elder brings extensive knowledge, insight, and compassion to the tenants she represents. She advocates for clients facing slum housing conditions, discrimination, retaliation, and violations of rent control ordinances, and has successfully tried cases to verdict in both state and federal courts.

Ms. Elder began her legal career as a staff attorney at the Fair Housing Council of Orange County, where she worked to ensure government compliance with fair housing laws. She later joined an insurance defense firm representing landlords accused of housing violations. This experience gave her unique insight into the defense side of litigation. Ms. Elder then founded her own practice exclusively representing tenants, which expanded into Elder & Spencer LLP when she partnered with Chandra Spencer in 2013.

Ms. Elder graduated cum laude from Western State University College of Law. She earned three American Jurisprudence Awards, served on Law Review, and competed in Traynor Moot Court and Ferguson Honor’s Moot Court.

Outside of her legal work, Ms. Elder trains and competes as a master women’s rower.