Tenant Fighting Eviction with 2 Year Old Incident

[mmouse18]

My question involves an eviction in the state of: California

I've filed an Unlawful Detainer suit against my tenant for 2 months of unpaid rent. But their lawyer claims that i owe them rent for 2 months from 2 years ago when they were displaced from the house while we had to fix water damage.

The thing is that my townhouse association housed them in a hotel suite with kitchenette and gave them $50 daily stipend and told them to continue paying me rent in return.

Are they justified in fighting the eviction by using this incident from so long ago. Was it not legal for me to collect this payment in lieu of them being housed elsewhere?

[Mr. Knowitall]

It sounds like they're working with the only defense they can come up with. You're free to respond that they were fully compensated for their inconvenience via the $50/day and temporary housing.