(a)  In any action brought pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1159) of Title 3 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in order to evict a tenant from employee housing, this section shall apply to that proceeding, notwithstanding any other provision of law including, but not limited to, Section 1170.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(b)  If, in an action subject to this section, a tenant alleges both of the following in an answer or other response to an unlawful detainer action, the trial on that action shall be set not earlier than 30 days from the date of filing the answer, and in no event prior to the completion of reasonable and diligently pursued discovery, as determined by the court, unless both parties stipulate to an earlier date:

(1)  The tenant is not guilty of unlawful detainer because he or she has engaged in protected activity pursuant to Section 1942.5 of the Civil Code or Section 17031.5 of this code.

(2)  The landlord’s claim that the eviction is to allow the landlord to remove the subject rental unit from use as employee housing or from the market in order to rehabilitate or demolish it is a pretext to retaliate against the tenant.

(c)  If, in an action subject to this section, a tenant alleged that he or she is not guilty of unlawful detainer because he or she has engaged in protected activity pursuant to Section 1942.5 of the Civil Code or Section 17031.5, and the landlord alleges or introduces evidence at trial that the purpose of the eviction is to allow the landlord to remove the subject rental unit from use as employee housing or from the market in order to rehabilitate or demolish it, the court shall immediately continue the trial for not less than 30 days, unless both parties stipulate to a waiver of this requirement.

(d)  (1)  If, pursuant to this section, a trial is delayed or continued, the court, may, upon a noticed motion for a payment order by the lessor, order the monthly payment of the reasonable monthly rental value to the court, if rent were otherwise due, as a condition of issuing the delay or continuance order.

(2)  “Reasonable monthly rental value,” as used in this subdivision, means the amount determined by the court after deducting from the contract rent any set offs, including, but not limited to, a reduction in the rent because the dwelling is partially or completely untenantable or rent abatements due to the tenant or lessee. In addition, in determining whether to order the payment of a reasonable monthly rental value to the court, or in ascertaining its amount, the court shall consider the probability of the tenant or lessee prevailing in the trial, the financial ability of the tenant or lessee to maintain this action, and any other factor relevant to the proposed payment order.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1298, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 1993.)