How long does a tenant have to answer a UD?

10 court days after summons service under AB 2347 (effective January 1, 2025). Court days exclude weekends and judicial holidays.

Judicial Council Form UD-105 is the standard answer form for unlawful detainer cases. It lists common defenses with check-boxes, including denial of allegations, habitability defense, retaliation, breach of warranty, and improper service.

What are common affirmative defenses?

Breach of warranty of habitability (the single most-effective defense), §1942.5 retaliation, improper service of notice, defective notice, partial payment acceptance, just-cause failure under AB 1482/SB 567, and discrimination under FEHA.

What happens if tenant doesn't answer?

Landlord requests default judgment. Typically wraps in 1–2 weeks after the 10-day deadline. Default cases proceed without a trial.

What if the answer is procedurally defective?

Landlord can move to strike or for summary judgment. But defective answers from pro se tenants are often easy to fix, and trial usually proceeds on the merits with the procedural defect cured.

AB 2347 · Form UD-105

The UD tenant answer. 10 court days under AB 2347.

AB 2347 doubled the response window. Form UD-105 lists the defenses with check-boxes. Habitability and §1942.5 retaliation are the most-effective.

TL;DR

Tenant has 10 court days (post-AB 2347) to file Form UD-105. Common defenses: habitability, retaliation, improper notice/service, just-cause failure, partial-payment acceptance. No answer = default judgment in 1–2 weeks.

UD Step by Step
Default Judgment
Trial Prep

Common questions — tenant answer

How long to answer?

10 court days under AB 2347.

Form UD-105?

Judicial Council answer form with check-box defenses.

Common defenses?

Habitability, retaliation, improper notice/service, just-cause failure.

No answer?

Default judgment in 1–2 weeks.

Defective answer?

Motion to strike or summary judgment. Pro se defects often curable.