Quote Quoting devilsadvocate3
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They contacted the landlord and now the landlord is furious not only at my girlfriend but has threatened me with attorneys if I continue to tell my girlfriend what is not up to code in the apartment and needs to be fixed.
Given that the unit has been inspected, that's really now the role of the housing inspector; but no, they have no basis to sue you for pointing out actual problems with the apartment.
Quote Quoting devilsadvocate3
In doing so by reporting those claims to the department the landlord has said that the tenant has broken a section in her lease which says:
He's very obviously wrong. Leaving aside the fact that these issues existed when they rented the unit to your girlfriend, such that they are known issues, that's not what the clause says. Further, any lease provision that prohibited a tenant from reporting housing defects to the appropriate housing authorities would be void. See Civil Code Sec. 1942.5.
Quote Quoting devilsadvocate3
If I might add that the tenant did not file the form to have an inspector come out, it was done by the guest.
The tenant is best protected when the tenant makes her own complaint.
Quote Quoting devilsadvocate3
What sort of legal trouble could the landlord be in with the department of health and safety, assuming the inspector only saw the tenants apartment?
If the landlord is ordered to make repairs, the landlord will be expected to make the repairs. If the landlord does not do so, additional consequences or penalties can result.

I'm not going to speculate over a possible rent abatement action for conditions in an apartment that I have never seen.