A tenant’s denial, either specific or general, of the landlord’s material allegations in an unlawful detainer (UD) complaint places in issue either all or some of those allegations.
- Specific denial: A specific denial admits and/or denies, or denies on the basis of lack of information or belief, specified portions of the complaint. The Judicial Council-approved UD answer [see form 982.1(95)] accommodates a specific denial at item 2b. [See CCP §431.30.]
- General denial: A general denial can be used only when the amount in controversy is less than $1000. It controverts and places in issue all of the landlord’s essential allegations. [See CCP §§431.10(a), 431.30, 431.40.] A general denial can be made by checking item 2a on the UD answer, or by filing the Judicial Council-approved general denial [see form 982(a)(13)].
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