The California Landlords Eviction Law Book
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TWELFTH EDITION FEBRUARY 2007
Editor JANET PORTMAN
Book Design TERRI HEARSH
Production MARGARET LIVINGSTON
CD-ROM Preparation ELLEN BITTER
Proofreading ROBERT WELLS
Index MICHAEL FERREIRA
Cover Photography TONYA PERME (www.tonyaperme.com)
Printing DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC.
Brown, David Wayne, 1949-
The California landlord’s law book. Evictions / by David Brown ; edited by Janet
Portman.-- 12th ed.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-0570-8
ISBN-10: 1-4133-0570-9
1. Landlord and tenant--California--Popular works. 2. Eviction--California--Popular
works. I. Portman, Janet. II. Title. III. Title: Landlord’s law book. IV. Title: Evictions.
KFC145.Z9B762 2007
346.79404'34--dc22
2006047126
Copyright © 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007 by
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Acknowledgments
This book could not have been published without the generous assistance of
many people. A special thank you to Mary Randolph, Steve Elias, Jake War-
ner, Marcia Stewart, Patricia Gima, and Janet Portman, who all tirelessly read
the entire manuscript several times and made numerous helpful suggestions,
nearly all of which were incorporated. If you find this book easy to follow
and enjoyable to read (well, not like a novel), Mary, Steve, Jake, Marcia, Pa-
tricia, and Janet deserve most of the credit.
Thanks also to Robin Leonard, Amy Ihara, John O’Donnell, Barbara Hodovan,
Kate Thill, Carol Pladsen, Stephanie Harolde, Julie Christianson, David Cole,
Ann Heron, Jack Devaney, Susan Quinn, Alison Towle, and especially Toni
Ihara and Terri Hearsh, who were responsible for the layout of this book.
Ira Serkes, past president of the Rental Housing Association of Contra Costa
County, read the manuscript and made helpful suggestions. Martin Dean,
of Martin Dean Essential Publishers, Inc., generously gave us permission to
reprint one of their forms.
About the Author
David Brown practices law in the Monterey, California, area, where he has
represented both landlords and tenants in hundreds of court cases—most
of which he felt could have been avoided if both sides were more fully in-
formed about landlord/tenant law. Brown is a graduate of Stanford University
(chemistry) and the University of Santa Clara Law School. He is the author of
Fight Your Ticket and Win in California and Beat Your Ticket (national), and
the coauthor of The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities
and The Guardianship Book, all published by Nolo.
Table of Contents
1
Evictions in California: An Overview
The Landlord’s Role in Evictions ................................................................................................. 2
Proceed With Caution When Evicting a Tenant ...........................................................................
3
When Not to Use This Book ....................................................................................................... 3
A Reason for Which You Must Evict: Drug Dealing ..................................................................... 4
Evictions in Certain Cities ........................................................................................................... 5
Evicting Roommates ...................................................................................................................5
Evicting a Resident Manager ....................................................................................................... 7
Attorneys and Eviction Services ..................................................................................................8
How to Use This Book ................................................................................................................ 8
2
Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent
Overview of the Process ........................................................................................................... 12
Preparing the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit .................................................................
12
Serving the Three-Day Notice on the Tenant .............................................................................
18
After the Three-Day Notice Is Served ........................................................................................
23
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................................ 24
3
Eviction by 30-Day or 60-Day Notice
Overview of the Process ........................................................................................................... 26
When a Tenancy May Be Terminated With a 30-Day or 60-Day Notice ....................................
26
Impermissible Reasons to Evict ................................................................................................. 26
30-Day, 60-Day, and 90-Day Notices ....................................................................................... 28
Rent Control and Just Cause Eviction Ordinances ..................................................................... 30
Should You Use a Three-Day, 30-Day, or 60-Day Notice? .........................................................
35
Preparing the 30-Day or 60-Day Notice ................................................................................... 35
Serving the Notice .................................................................................................................... 38
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................................ 39
4
Eviction for Lease Violations, Property Damage, or Nuisance
When to Use This Chapter ........................................................................................................ 42
The Two Types of Three-Day Notices ........................................................................................42
Using the Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit ........................................................ 44
Using and Preparing an Unconditional Three-Day Notice to Quit ............................................
45
Serving the Three-Day Notice (Either Type) ...............................................................................
48
Accepting Rent After the Notice Is Served .................................................................................
49
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................................ 52
5
Eviction Without a Three-Day or Other Termination Notice
Lease Expiration ....................................................................................................................... 54
Termination by the Tenant ........................................................................................................56
Checklist for Uncontested “No-Notice” Eviction ......................................................................
56
6
Filing and Serving Your Unlawful Detainer Complaint
How to Use This Chapter ..........................................................................................................60
When to File Your Unlawful Detainer Complaint ......................................................................
60
Where to File Suit .....................................................................................................................60
Preparing the Summons ............................................................................................................ 61
Preparing the Complaint ..........................................................................................................65
Preparing the Civil Case Cover Sheet ........................................................................................
78
Getting the Complaint and Summons Ready to File .................................................................. 80
Filing Your Complaint and Getting Summonses Issued .............................................................. 82
Serving the Papers on the Defendant ........................................................................................
82
What Next? .............................................................................................................................. 94
7
Taking a Default Judgment
When Can You Take a Default? ................................................................................................. 96
The Two-Step Default Judgment Process ...................................................................................
97
Getting a Default Judgment for Possession ...............................................................................
97
Having the Marshal or Sheriff Evict .........................................................................................110
Getting a Money Judgment for Rent and Costs ........................................................................
111
8
Contested Cases
What Is Involved in a Contested Eviction Case .......................................................................133
Should You Hire an Attorney? ................................................................................................. 133
How to Settle a Case .............................................................................................................. 134
The Tenant’s Written Response to an Unlawful Detainer Complaint ........................................
140
Responding to the Answer ...................................................................................................... 147
Other Pretrial Complications .................................................................................................. 170
Preparing for Trial ................................................................................................................... 171
The Trial ................................................................................................................................. 179
The Writ of Execution and Having the Sheriff or Marshal Evict ...............................................182
Appeals .................................................................................................................................. 183
Tenant’s Possible “Relief From Forfeiture” ...............................................................................
183
9
Collecting Your Money Judgment
Collection Strategy ................................................................................................................. 187
Using the Tenant’s Security Deposit ........................................................................................ 188
Finding the Tenant .................................................................................................................. 188
Locating the Tenant’s Assets .................................................................................................... 190
Garnishing Wages and Bank Accounts ...................................................................................
195
Seizing Other Property ........................................................................................................... 199
If the Debtor Files a Claim of Exemption ................................................................................
202
Once the Judgment Is Paid Off ................................................................................................ 202
10
When a Tenant Files for Bankruptcy
When a Tenant Can File for Bankruptcy .................................................................................. 206
The Automatic Stay ................................................................................................................. 206
Appendix 1
Rent Control Chart
Appendix 2
How to Use the CD-ROM
Appendix 3
Tear-Out Forms
Forms for ending the tenancy
Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
30-Day Notice of Termination of Tenancy (Tenancy Less Than One Year)
60-Day Notice of Termination of Tenancy (Tenancy of One Year or Longer)
90-Day Notice of Termination of Tenancy (Subsidized Tenancies)
Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit
Three-Day Notice to Quit (Improper Subletting, Nuisance, Waste, or Illegal Use)
Forms for filing an eviction lawsuit
Summons—Unlawful Detainer—Eviction
Complaint—Unlawful Detainer
Civil Case Cover Sheet
Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location
Proof of Service of Summons
Application and Order to Serve Summons by Posting for Unlawful Detainer
Prejudgment Claim to Right of Possession
Blank Pleading Paper
Forms for default judgments
Request for Entry of Default
Writ of Execution
Application for Issuance of Writ of Execution, Possession or Sale
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment for Rent, Damages, and Costs (3-, 30-, 60- or 90-Day
Notice)
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment for Damages and Costs (Violation of Lease)
Declaration for Default Judgment by Court
Forms for contested evictions
Judgment—Unlawful Detainer
Stipulation for Entry of Judgment
Request/Counter-Request to Set Case for Trial—Unlawful Detainer
Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; and Points and Authorities
Proof of Personal Service
Order Granting Motion for Summary Judgment
Judgment Following Granting of Motion for Summary Judgment
Judgment—Unlawful Detainer Attachment
Forms for collecting your money judgment
Application and Order for Appearance and Examination
Questionnaire for Judgment-Debtor Examination
Application for Earnings Withholding Order (Wage Garnishment)
Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment
Proof of Service by Mail
Index
C H A P T E R
1
Evictions in California: An Overview
The Landlord’s Role in Evictions .................................................................................... 2
Proceed With Caution When Evicting a Tenant.............................................................. 3
When Not to Use This Book .......................................................................................... 3
A Reason for Which You Must Evict: Drug Dealing ........................................................ 4
Evictions in Certain Cities ............................................................................................. 5
Cities With Rent Control .......................................................................................... 5
San Diego and Glendale .......................................................................................... 5
Evicting Roommates ...................................................................................................... 5
Evicting a Resident Manager ......................................................................................... 7
Separate Management and Rental Agreements ......................................................... 7
Single Management/Rental Agreement ..................................................................... 7
Attorneys and Eviction Services ..................................................................................... 8
How to Use This Book .................................................................................................. 8
2 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
S
ometimes even the most sincere and professional
attempts at conscientious landlording fail, and
you have to consider evicting a tenant. This is a
do-it-yourself eviction manual for California landlords.
It shows you, step by step, how to file and conduct an
uncontested eviction lawsuit against a residential tenant.
It does not cover how to evict a hotel guest, a tenant in
a mobile home park, or a commercial tenant. Neither
does it show a new owner, who has just purchased
property at a foreclosure sale, how to evict a former
owner (or his tenant).
The Landlord’s Role in Evictions
Strictly speaking, the word “evict” refers to the process
of a sheriff or marshal ordering a tenant to get out
or be forcibly removed. It is illegal for you to try to
physically evict a tenant yourself. The sheriff or marshal
will only evict a tenant pursuant to a court order known
as an “unlawful detainer judgment.” To get such a
judgment, you must bring an eviction lawsuit, called an
“unlawful detainer action,” against the tenant.
The linchpin of an unlawful detainer suit is proper
termination of the tenancy; you can’t get a judgment
without it. This usually means giving your tenant
adequate written notice, in a specified way. The law
sets out very detailed requirements for landlords who
want to end a tenancy. If you don’t meet them exactly,
you will lose your suit even if your tenant has bounced
checks, including your rent check, from here to
Mandalay.
This legal strictness is not accidental; it reflects
the law’s bias in favor of tenants. The law used to
be heavily weighted on the landowner’s side, but
attitudes have changed, and today the law puts more
value on a tenant’s right to shelter than a landlord’s
right to property. As one court put it, “Our courts were
never intended to serve as rubber stamps for landlords
seeking to evict their tenants, but rather to see that
justice be done before a man is evicted from his home.”
(Maldanado v. Superior Court (1984) 162 Cal. App. 3d
1259, 1268-69.)
Because an eviction judgment means the tenant
won’t have a roof over his head (and his children’s
heads), judges are very demanding of the landlord. In
addition, many California cities go beyond state law,
which allows the termination of periodic tenancies
at the will of the landlord, and require the landlord
to show a “just cause” for eviction. In these cities,
nonpayment of rent is still a straightforward ground for
eviction, but there are few others.
Why do we emphasize the negatives of evicting
a tenant? Because we want you to understand at the
outset that even if you properly bring and conduct
an unlawful detainer action, you are not assured of
winning and having the tenant evicted if the tenant
decides to file a defense. In other words, despite the
merits of your position, you may face a judge who will
hold you to every technicality and bend over backwards
to sustain the tenant’s position. A tenant can raise many
substantive, as well as procedural, objections to an
unlawful detainer suit. Essentially, any breach by you
of any duty imposed on landlords by state or local law
can be used by your tenant as a defense to your action.
Simply put, unless you thoroughly know your legal
rights and duties as a landlord before you go to court,
and unless you dot every “i” and cross every “t,” you
may end up on the losing side. Our advice: Especially
if your action is contested, be meticulous in your
preparation.
Before you proceed with an unlawful detainer
lawsuit, consider that even paying the tenant a few
hundred dollars to leave right away may be cheaper
in the long run. For example, paying a tenant $500
to leave right away (with payment made only as the
tenant leaves and hands you the keys) may be cheaper
than spending $100 to file suit and going without rent
for three to eight weeks while the tenant contests the
lawsuit and stays. The alternative of a several-month-
long eviction lawsuit—during which you can’t accept
rent that you may be unable to collect even after
winning a judgment—may, in the long run, be more
expensive and frustrating than paying the tenant to
leave and starting over with a better tenant quickly.
Note of Sanity. Between 80% and 90% of all
unlawful detainer actions are won by landlords
because the tenant fails to show up. So the odds favor
relatively smooth sailing in your unlawful detainer action.
CHAPTER 1: EVICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA: AN OVERVIEW 3
Proceed With Caution When
Evicting a Tenant
The moment relations between you and one of your
tenants begin to sour, you will be wise to remember
a cardinal truth. Any activity by you that might
be construed by your tenant as illegal, threatening,
humiliating, abusive, or invasive of his privacy can
potentially give rise to a lawsuit against you for big
bucks. So, although the unlawful detainer procedure
can be tedious, it’s important to understand that it is the
only game in town.
Shortcuts such as threats, intimidation, utility shutoffs,
or attempts to physically remove a tenant are illegal
and dangerous. If you resort to them, you may well
find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit for such
personal injuries as trespass, assault, battery, slander
and libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress,
and wrongful eviction. A San Francisco landlord was
ordered to pay 23 tenants $1.48 million in 1988, after a
jury found he had cut off tenants’ water, invaded their
privacy, and threatened to physically throw them out.
(The verdict was reduced on appeal, to half a million
dollars.) (Balmoral Hotel Tenants Association v. Lee
(1990) 226 Cal. App. 3d 686, 276 Cal. Rptr. 640.)
To avoid such liability, we recommend that you
avoid all unnecessary one-on-one personal contact with
the tenant during the eviction process unless it occurs
in a structured setting (for example, during mediation,
at a neighborhood dispute resolution center, or in
the presence of a neutral third party). Also keep your
written communications to the point and as neutral as
you can, even if you are boiling inside. Remember, any
manifestations of anger on your part can come back to
legally haunt you somewhere down the line. Finally,
treat the tenant like she has a right to remain on the
premises, even though it is your position that she
doesn’t. Until the day the sheriff or marshal shows up
with a writ of possession, the tenant’s home is legally
her castle, and you may come to regret any actions on
your part that don’t recognize that fact.
When Not to Use This Book
Most of you fit within the most common eviction
situation: You (or the owner, if you are a manager)
own residential rental property which you operate as a
business. You need to evict a tenant who has not paid
the rent, has violated another important rental term or
condition, or has held over past the expiration of his or
her lease or rental agreement. This is the book for you,
to use on your own or in conjunction with an attorney.
There are some situations, however, that this book
doesn’t address. Do not use this book, or its forms, if
any of the following scenarios describe you.
You have bought the property at a foreclosure sale
and need to evict the former owner, who has not
moved out. If you now want to get rid of the former
owner-occupant, you must use a special unlawful
detainer complaint, unlike the forms contained in this
book. You’ll need to see a lawyer.
You have bought the property at a foreclosure sale
and need to evict the tenant of the former owner. If
the occupant is a tenant of the former owner, different
procedures apply depending on whether the tenant’s
lease predated the mortgage or deed of trust foreclosed
upon, and whether you accepted rent from the tenant
after foreclosure. Here are the rules:
• If the tenant’s lease or rental agreement began
after the deed of trust was recorded (which
will be true in most cases), the foreclosure sale
has the effect of wiping out the lease or rental
agreement. If you have not accepted rent from
the former owner’s tenant, there is a way to get
the tenant out quickly—but you won’t be able to
use the Complaint forms in this book. You’ll need
to see a lawyer.
• If the tenant’s lease began before the deed of trust
was recorded, or if you have accepted rent from a
tenant whose lease or rental agreement predates
the deed of trust, you must honor his lease or
rental agreement just as the former owner did. In
short, you are now the tenant’s landlord, and until
the lease runs out (or you terminate a month-to-
month tenancy with the proper amount of notice),
or until the tenant otherwise violates the rental
conditions, you are stuck with this tenant. If any of
these events come to pass, however, you may use
this book.
4 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
You have purchased the property and want to evict
the former owner’s tenant. When you purchase property
at a normal sale, you “take” it subject to existing leases
or rental agreements. This means that no matter how
much you would like to move in yourself or install
different tenants, you can’t do so until the leases run
out, you terminate a month-to-month with the proper
amount of notice, or the tenant violates an important
rental term or condition. When any of these conditions
are met, however, you may go ahead and use this book
and its forms.
You own commercial property and want to evict a
tenant for nonpayment of rent or other lease violations.
Commercial landlords should not use this book.
Many commercial leases require tenants to pay for
common-area maintenance, prorated property taxes,
and utility charges, in addition to a set monthly sum.
Because the exact rent amount is often not clear, a
special termination notice (not supplied in this book)
must be used. Also, many commercial leases provide
for special types of notice periods and ways to serve
notices, which are different from the ones specified
in this book. Finally, since commercial leases often
run for five or ten years and can be quite valuable
to a tenant, a commercial tenant is much more likely
than a residential tenant to contest an eviction—and
judges are less likely to order an eviction for minor
lease violations. In short, with all these possible
complications, we suggest seeing an attorney to handle
an eviction of a commercial tenant.
A Reason for Which You Must Evict:
Drug Dealing
In cases of drug dealing, it’s not a question of whether
or not it’s permissible to evict a tenant—it’s imperative
to do so. In fact, a landlord who fails to evict a tenant
who deals illegal drugs on the property can face lawsuits
from other tenants, neighbors, and local authorities.
Many landlords have been held liable for tens of
thousands of dollars in damages for failing to evict a
drug-dealing tenant. A landlord can also face loss of the
property.
When it’s a month-to-month tenancy, terminate the
tenancy with a 30-day notice (or 60-day notice if tenant
has stayed a year or more—see Chapter 3 as soon as
you suspect illegal drug activity by the tenant or any
members of the tenant’s family. If the tenant has a
fixed-term lease, you will have to follow the procedures
in Chapter 4. Evictions for drug dealing may be a little
more difficult in rent control cities with “just cause
eviction” provisions in their rent control ordinances;
even so, a landlord faced with a drug-dealing tenant
should do everything he or she can to evict, and should
begin gathering evidence against the drug dealer—
including getting tenants and neighbors to keep records
of heavy traffic in and out of the suspected tenant’s
home at odd hours.
Prosecutors May Evict for You—At a Price
The legislature has established a program for certain
courts within Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego
counties that authorizes the city attorney or district
attorney to file an unlawful detainer action against
tenants who are using rental property to sell, use,
store, or make illegal drugs. (H&S § 11571.1.) The
program applies to cases brought in certain cities in
those counties, including the City of Los Angeles,
Long Beach, San Diego, and Oakland. It will expire
January 1, 2010, unless the legislature extends it.
Owners will be given 30 days’ notice of the
intended eviction lawsuit, and will be given 30 days
to proceed with the eviction on their own. If they
decline, they will be expected to furnish relevant
information about the tenants and their activities and
must assign their right to evict to the city. Owners
may be asked to cover up to $600 worth of the
city’s litigation costs. If the owners don’t cooperate
or respond within the 30 days, the city can join the
owners as defendants in the eviction lawsuit. And
if the city has to go this route and wins, the owner
will be ordered to pay the city for the entire cost
of bringing the lawsuit. In Los Angeles, the District
Attorney’s office issues about 500 such eviction
notices per year; 50 to 80 go to trial, and the city
wins 98% of them. (“Law Would Give Oakland
the Muscle to Oust Tenants,” San Francisco Daily
Journal, April 6, 2004.)
Heard enough? The message is clear: Take care of
drug problems yourself, quickly. If you don’t want
to handle the eviction on your own, hire counsel.
Don’t end up footing the bill for the services of
well-paid city attorneys.
CHAPTER 1: EVICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA: AN OVERVIEW 5
Evictions in Certain Cities
Local ordinances in many California cities address
evictions—specifying under what circumstances you
may proceed, and how to proceed. Most of these cities
also have rent control ordinances, but not all, as you’ll
see below.
Cities With Rent Control
If you think all local rent control laws do is control
rents, you have a surprise coming. They also affect
evictions in two important ways: First, many (but not
all) rent control ordinances and regulations impose
important restrictions or additional procedural
requirements on evictions. For example, the ordinances
of some cities require a landlord to have a “just cause”
(good reason) to evict a tenant, sometimes even for
rental units that are exempt from rent control. Local
ordinances also commonly require tenancy termination
notices and complaints to contain statements not
required by state law.
Second, any violation of any provision of a rent
control law may provide a tenant with a defense to
your eviction lawsuit. Even failure to register your rental
units with the local rent board, if that is required under
the ordinance, may provide a tenant with a successful
defense against an eviction suit. Appendix 1 in this
book lists the requirements each rent control city imposes
on eviction lawsuits—such as any applicable registration
requirements or extra information required in three-
day or other termination notices or in the eviction
complaint itself.
No two cities’ rent control ordinances are alike. Within
the space of one book, we can only write instructions
and forms for use by the majority of California landlords
—those who do not have rent control. We cannot
include 15 additional sets that are tailor-made for use
in the 15 cities that have rent control and impose
additional requirements when it comes to filling out
forms. But your rent control ordinance may affect
almost every step in your eviction proceeding.
If you
do not conform your notices and court filings to your
ordinance’s requirements, it’s very likely that your
case will be tossed out or lost, perhaps after you’ve
spent considerable time and effort. We cannot say this
strongly enough: Read your rent control ordinance before
you begin an unlawful detainer proceeding and before you
use any of the forms in this book.
Begin by reading the
overview in Appendix 1, which tells you what to look
for and where to learn more (often, you can read the
ordinance online).
Cities With Rent Control
Some form of rent regulation now exists in fifteen
California cities:
Berkeley Oakland
Beverly Hills Palm Springs
Campbell (mediation only)* San Francisco
East Palo Alto San Jose*
Fremont (mediation only)* Santa Monica
Hayward Thousand Oaks
Los Angeles West Hollywood
Los Gatos*
*
These rent control cities do not have just cause eviction
provisions.
San Diego and Glendale
Two cities without rent control—San Diego and
Glendale—also restrict evictions, though San Diego’s
ordinance applies only to tenancies lasting two
years of more. These cities’ rules do not affect the
procedure for evicting with a three-day notice based
on nonpayment of rent or other breach, or commission
of waste or nuisance. They do affect evictions based
30-day or 60-day terminations of month-to-month
tenancies. See “Checklist for 30- or 60-Day Notice
Eviction” in Chapter 3.
Evicting Roommates
This book was written with the small property owner
in mind, such as an owner of a modest apartment
complex or a single-family rental.
However, some of our readers have used this book
to evict a roommate. If you are thinking about evicting
a roommate, we suggest that you read The Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, where we discuss
the legal relationship between roommates.
6 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
A lodger, or roomer, is someone who rents a room
in a house that you own and live in. The rules for
evicting a lodger are covered by California Civil Code
§ 1946.5 and Penal Code §§ 602.3 and 837, and apply
only if you rent to one lodger. (If you have two or more
lodgers, you must use the unlawful detainer procedures
described in this book.) In addition, you must have
overall control of the dwelling unit and have retained a
right of access to areas occupied by the lodger.
If your lodger is a month-to-month tenant and you
want to terminate the tenancy, you can serve the lodger
with a 30-day notice, as explained in Chapter 3. You
may also use a shortcut (not available to landlords
serving nonlodger tenants) and send the notice by
certified or registered mail, restricted delivery, with a
return receipt requested.
A lodger who doesn’t leave at the end of the notice
period is guilty of an infraction. Technically, this entitles
you to do a citizen’s arrest, which means that you can
eject the lodger using reasonable, but not deadly, force.
However, we strongly advise against this tactic, and
instead suggest calling local law enforcement to handle
the situation. Have a copy of your dated termination
notice available. Be aware that many local police do
not know the procedures for evicting lodgers or may
not want to get involved, fearing potential liability for
improperly evicting a tenant. The police may insist that
you go through the normal unlawful detainer lawsuit
process—which will result in a court order authorizing
the police or sheriff to evict the lodger. If the lodger has
stayed for a year or more and the police won’t evict
on your 30-day notice, you will have to start all over
with a 60-day notice according to a different law, Civ.
§ 1946.1. Check with your chief of police to find out
how this issue is handled.
If you need to evict your lodger “for cause”—that
is, for failing to pay the rent or violation of the rental
agreement—you can serve him with a three-day notice,
but if he doesn’t leave you will have to go through an
unlawful detainer lawsuit as explained in this book. You
cannot hand your copy of the three-day notice to the
local police and ask them to remove the lodger. For
this reason, you may want to use the less complicated
route of the 30-day notice, in hopes that, if the lodger
refuses to budge, local law enforcement will honor
your termination notice.
Finally, if your lodger has a lease, you cannot evict
unless he has failed to pay the rent, violated a term
of the lease, or engaged in illegal activity. In these
situations you will need to use a 30-day or 60-day
notice. If the lodger fails to vacate, you must file an
unlawful detainer lawsuit in order to get him out.
Evicting a Lodger
If you want to use this book to evict a roommate,
you must be the original tenant (or the one who has
signed a lease or rental agreement with the landlord),
and the roommate you want to evict must be your
landlord’s “subtenant.” A “subtenant” is usually
someone who is renting part of your place from you
and paying rent to you instead of your landlord. In this
relationship, you are the “landlord” and your roommate
is your “tenant.”
You can’t evict a roommate if you and your
roommate are “cotenants.” You are cotenants if you
and your roommate both signed the lease or rental
agreement.
EXAMPLE: Marlena Mastertenant rents a two-
bedroom house from Oscar Owner for $900 a
month. Marlena rents one of the bedrooms (plus
half the common areas such as kitchen, bathroom,
and hallways) to Susie Subtenant for $400 a month.
Marlena is the tenant and Susie is the subtenant.
Marlena can use the procedures in this book to
evict Susie if Susie doesn’t pay her rent. In the
unlawful detainer complaint (see “Preparing the
Complaint,” Item 3, in Chapter 6), Marlena should
list herself as “lessee/sublessor.”
CHAPTER 1: EVICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA: AN OVERVIEW 7
EXAMPLE: Terry Tenant and Tillie Tenant (brother
and sister) jointly rent a two-bedroom apartment
from Lenny Landlord. They moved in at the same
time and both of them signed the lease. They are
both Lenny’s tenants. Since neither Terry nor Tillie
are each other’s subtenant, they cannot use this book.
The legal relationship between roommates is often
unclear. For example, if one tenant moved in first,
is the second occupant a subtenant because she negotiated
with and rented from the first tenant, or a cotenant because
she claims to have a separate verbal understanding with
the owner regarding rent? If in doubt, see a lawyer before
using this book to evict a roommate you claim is your
subtenant.
Evicting a Resident Manager
If you fire a resident manager, or if he quits, you
will often want him to move out of your property,
particularly if he occupies a special manager’s unit or if
the firing or quitting has generated (or resulted from)
ill will. Eviction lawsuits against former managers
can be extremely complicated. This is especially true
if the management agreement requires good cause
for termination of employment or a certain period of
notice. Such lawsuits can also be complicated where
a single combined management/rental agreement
is used or if local rent control laws impose special
requirements. While all rent control cities do allow
eviction of fired managers, some cities impose
restrictions on it.
This section outlines some of the basic issues involved
in evicting a resident manager. We do not, and cannot,
provide you complete advice on how to evict a resident
manager. In many cases, you will need an experienced
attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law to
evict a former manager, particularly if the ex-manager
questions whether the firing was legally effective or
proper.
Separate Management and
Rental Agreements
To evict a tenant-manager with whom you signed
separate management and rental agreements (which
allows you to terminate the employment at any time),
you will have to give a normal 30-day written termination
notice, or a 60-day notice if the tenant-manager stayed
for a year or more, subject in either case to any just
cause eviction requirements in rent-control cities. (See
Chapter 3.) If the tenant has a separate fixed-term
lease, you cannot terminate the tenancy until the lease
expires.
Single Management/Rental Agreement
What happens to the tenancy when you fire a manager
(or he quits) depends on the kind of agreement you
and the manager had.
If the Manager Occupied a Special
Manager’s Unit
If your manager occupies a specially constructed
manager’s unit (such as one with a reception area or
built-in desk) which must be used by the manager, or
if she receives an apartment rent-free as part or all of
her compensation, your ability to evict the ex-manager
depends on:
• the terms of the management/rental agreement,
and
• local rent control provisions.
If the agreement says nothing about the tenancy
continuing if the manager quits or is fired, termination
of the employment also terminates the tenancy. You
can insist that the ex-manager leave right away, without
serving any three-day or other termination notice,
and can file an eviction lawsuit the next day if the ex-
manager refuses to leave.
(See C.C.P. § 1161 (1) and
Lombard v. Santa Monica YMCA (1985) 160 Cal. App.
3d 529.) (See the checklist in Chapter 5.)
The just cause eviction provisions of any applicable
rent control law, however, may still require a separate
notice or otherwise restrict your ability to evict a fired
manager.
If the Manager Didn’t Occupy a Manager’s Unit
If the manager was simply compensated by a rent
reduction, and there is no separate employment
agreement, there may be confusion as to whether the
rent can be “increased” after the manager is fired.
If an ex-manager refuses to pay the full rent, you
will have to serve a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or
Quit, demanding the unpaid rent. If she still won’t pay,
you’ll have to follow up with an eviction lawsuit. (See
Chapter 2.)
8 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Attorneys and Eviction Services
While you can do most evictions yourself, there are a
few circumstances when you may want to consult an
attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law:
• The property you own is too far from where
you live. Since you must file an eviction lawsuit
where the property is located, the time and travel
involved in representing yourself may be great.
• Your tenant is already represented by a lawyer,
even before you proceed with an eviction.
• Your property is subject to rent control and local
ordinances governing evictions.
• The tenant you are evicting is an ex-manager
whom you have fired. (See above.)
• Your tenant contests the eviction in court. (See
Chapter 8 for more details on hiring an attorney
in contested cases.)
• Your tenant files for bankruptcy. (See Chapter 10.)
If you simply want someone to handle the paperwork
and eviction details, you can use an “eviction service.”
(Check the Yellow Pages under this heading.) Because
eviction services cannot represent you in court, however,
they are not helpful where the tenant contests the
eviction in court.
Eviction services must be registered as “unlawful
detainer assistants” with the county in which they
operate, and must also be bonded or insured. (Bus. &
Prof. Code §§ 6400-6415.) In additional, all court papers
filed by an unlawful detainer assistant must indicate
that person’s name, address and country registration
number.
How to Use This Book
This book is a companion volume to The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, which
discusses the legal rules of renting residential real
property, with an eye toward avoiding legal problems
and fostering good tenant relations. Although you
can use this book as a self-contained do-it-yourself
eviction manual, we strongly recommend that you
use it along with The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities. It’s not just that we want to
sell more books—The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities provides crucial information
on the substance of landlord-tenant law that you
almost certainly will need to know to win a contested
unlawful detainer lawsuit. For example it discusses
leases, cotenants, subtenants, roommates, deposits, rent
increases, rent control laws, privacy, discrimination,
your duty to provide safe housing, and many more
crucially important areas of landlord-tenant law. Even
more important, The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities provides a good overview of
your duties as a landlord so that you can minimize the
need to evict tenants as much as possible, or at least
know in advance whether you’re vulnerable to any of
the commonly used tenant defenses.
Some material is necessarily repeated here and
discussed in the eviction context. For example,
information on three-day notices is important for
both rent collection and for eviction. For the most part,
however, this volume makes extensive references to The
California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities
for detailed discussions of substantive law instead of
repeating them.
Now let’s take a minute to get an overview of how
this volume works. Chapters 2 through 5 explain the
legal grounds for eviction. This entire lists looks like this:
• The tenant has failed to leave or pay the rent due
within three days of having received from you
a written Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
(Chapter 2).
• A month-to-month tenant has failed to leave
within the time allowed after having received
from you a written notice giving 30 days, or 60
days if the tenant rented for a year or more, or 90
days (certain government-subsidized tenancies.)
(Chapter 3.)
• The tenant has failed to leave or comply with a
provision of her lease or rental agreement within
three days after having received your written
three-day notice to correct the violation or quit
(Chapter 4).
• The tenant has sublet the property contrary to the
lease or rental agreement, has caused or allowed
a nuisance or serious damage to the property, or
has used the property for an illegal purpose, and
has failed to leave within three days of having
received from you an unconditional three-day
notice to vacate (Chapter 4).
• A tenant whose fixed-term lease has expired
and has not been renewed has failed to leave
(Chapter 5).
CHAPTER 1: EVICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA: AN OVERVIEW 9
• A month-to-month tenant has failed to leave
within the stated time after having given you a
written 30-day or 60-day notice terminating the
tenancy (Chapter 5).
After the tenancy is terminated (in almost all cases,
by a three-day or other notice), most of the procedures
in unlawful detainer lawsuits are the same no matter
which reason your suit is based on. Thus, after you
read either Chapter 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on the way
you’re terminating the tenancy, go next to the chapters
that explain the court procedures. These begin with
Chapter 6 on filing a complaint to begin your unlawful
detainer lawsuit.
If your tenant doesn’t contest the lawsuit within five
days after being served with a copy of your complaint,
you will go next to Chapter 7 on getting an eviction
judgment by default.
If the tenant does contest your unlawful detainer
suit, you will proceed directly to Chapter 8, which tells
you how to handle contested actions and when the
services of a lawyer are advisable. Chapter 10 discusses
your options when a tenant files for bankruptcy.
Chapter 9, on collecting your money judgment, will
be your last stop after you win the lawsuit.
The whole eviction process typically takes from one
to two months.
If you live in a city with a rent control ordinance, you
will be referred to Appendix 1 from time to time for
more detailed information on your locality’s ordinance.
Here are two examples of common pathways
through this book:
EXAMPLE: A tenant in your Los Angeles apartment
building, Roy, doesn’t pay the rent when it’s due
on the first of the month. A few days pass, and you
decide he’s probably never going to pay it. You turn
to Chapter 2 on nonpayment of rent. Following the
instructions, you serve Roy with a three-day notice
to pay rent or quit (after checking Appendix 1 in
this book and a copy of the current Los Angeles
rent control ordinance to see if there are any
special requirements you should know about).
Roy neither pays the rent nor moves in three
days. You then turn to Chapter 6, which tells you
how to begin an unlawful detainer suit by filing
a complaint with the court and serving a copy of
the complaint and a summons on the tenant. Roy
does not respond to your complaint in five days,
and Chapter 6 steers you to Chapter 7 on how to
get a default judgment. You are entitled to a default
judgment when the other side does not do the things
necessary to contest a case. After you successfully
use Chapter 7 to take default judgments both for
possession of the premises and the money Roy
owes you, your final step is to turn to Chapter 9 for
advice on how to collect the money.
EXAMPLE: You decide that you want to move a new
tenant into the house you rent out in Sacramento.
The current tenant, Maria, occupies the house
under a month-to-month rental agreement. She
pays her rent on time, and you’ve never had any
serious problems with her, but you would rather
have your friend Jim live there. You turn to Chapter
3 and follow the instructions to prepare and serve a
notice terminating Maria’s tenancy—a 60-day notice
because she’s lived there more than a year. Maria
doesn’t leave after her 60 days are up, so you go
to Chapter 6 for instructions on how to file your
unlawful detainer suit. After you serve her with
the summons and complaint, Maria files a written
response with the court. You then go to Chapter 8
to read about contested lawsuits.
10 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Valuable Resources
You should have ready access to current
editions of the California Civil Code and the
California Code of Civil Procedure. Although we
often refer to and explain the relevant code sections,
there are times when you will want to look at the
entire statute. These resources are available at most
public and all law libraries. You can also order the
paperback versions from Nolo. To read California
statutes online, see the website maintained by the
Legislative Counsel at www.leginfo.ca.gov. Chapter
8 of The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights
& Responsibilities shows you how to find and use
statutes and other legal resources if you want to do
more research on a particular subject.
To go further, we recommend Legal Research:
How to Find & Understand the Law, by Stephen
Elias and Susan Levinkind (Nolo), which gives easy-
to-use, step-by-step instructions on how to find legal
information. (See order information at the back of
this book.)
Abbreviations Used in This Book
We use these standard abbreviations throughout this
book for important statutes and court cases covering
evictions.
California Codes
Bus. & Prof. Business & Professions
Civ. Code Civil
C.C.P. Civil Procedure
Evid. Evidence
Gov’t. Government
H. & S. Health and Safety
Federal Laws
C.F.R. Code of Federal Regulations
U.S.C. United States Code
Cases
Cal. App. California Court of Appeal
Cal. California Supreme Court
F. Supp. Federal District Court
F.2d or F.3d Federal Court of Appeals
U.S. United States Supreme Court
Icons Used in This Book
Caution. This icon alerts you to potential
problems.
See an Expert. This icon lets you know when
you need the advice of an attorney or other
expert.
Fast Track. This icon lets you know when
you can skip information that may not be
relevant to your situation.
Recommended Reading. This icon refers you
to other books or resources.
Rent Control. This icon indicates special
considerations for rent control cities.
Tip. This icon alerts you to a practical tip or
good idea.
Tear-out Forms and CD-ROM. This icon tells
you that the form referred to in the text can
be found as a tear-out in Appendix 3 and on the CD-
ROM that is included with this book. Instructions
for opening and using the CD are in Appendix 2.
■
Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent
Overview of the Process ............................................................................................. 12
Checklist for Uncontested Three-Day Notice Eviction ............................................ 12
Preparing the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit .................................................... 12
Requirements of a Three-Day Notice ...................................................................... 12
How to Determine the Amount of Rent Due .......................................................... 14
Special Rules for Rent Control Cities ...................................................................... 15
How to Fill Out a Three-Day Notice ....................................................................... 17
Serving the Three-Day Notice on the Tenant ................................................................ 18
When to Serve the Notice ...................................................................................... 20
If You Routinely Accept Late Rent ........................................................................... 20
Who Should Serve the Three-Day Notice ............................................................... 21
Who Should Receive the Notice ............................................................................ 21
How to Serve the Three-Day Notice on the Tenant ................................................. 22
After the Three-Day Notice Is Served ........................................................................... 23
The Tenant Stays ..................................................................................................... 23
The Tenant Moves Out ........................................................................................... 23
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................... 24
C H A P T E R
2
12 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
A
pproximately nine out of ten unlawful
detainer lawsuits are brought because of
the tenant’s failure to pay rent when due.
Although you don’t want to sue your tenants every
time they’re 20 minutes late with the rent, obviously
it’s unwise to let a tenant get very far behind. You have
to use your own best judgment to decide how long to
wait.
Once you’ve decided that your tenants either can’t
or won’t pay the rent within a reasonable time (or move
out), you will want to evict them as fast as possible. As
we stressed in the previous chapter, the only legal way
to do this is with an “unlawful detainer” lawsuit. This
chapter shows you how to do this step by step.
Overview of the Process
Before you can file an unlawful detainer lawsuit against
a tenant, the law requires that you terminate the tenancy.
To properly terminate a tenancy for nonpayment of rent,
you must give the tenant three days’ written notice
using a form called a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or
Quit. This is normally referred to as a three-day notice.
If within three days after you properly serve the
tenant with this notice (you don’t count the first day)
she offers you the entire rent demanded, the termination
is ineffective and the tenant can legally stay. If, however,
the tenant neither pays nor moves by the end of the third
day (assuming the third day doesn’t fall on a Saturday,
Sunday, or holiday), you can begin your lawsuit.
You do not have to accept payment offered after
the end of the third day (unless it falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, or holiday, in which case the tenant has until
the end of the next business day to pay up). If you do
accept the rent, you no longer have the right to evict
the tenant based on the three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: Tillie’s lease requires her to pay $600
rent to her landlord, Lenny, on the first day of each
month in advance. Tillie fails to pay November’s
rent on November 1. By November 9, it’s evident
to Lenny that Tillie has no intention of paying the
rent, so he serves her with a Three-Day Notice to
Pay Rent or Quit following the instructions set out
below. The day the notice is given doesn’t count,
and Tillie has three days, starting on the 10th, to
pay. Tillie doesn’t pay the rent on the 10th, 11th, or
12th. However, since the 12th is a Saturday, Tillie
is not legally required to pay until the close of the
next business day, which is November 15 (because
November 13 is a Sunday and the 14th is a holiday—
Veteran’s Day). In other words, Lenny cannot bring
his lawsuit until November 16.
Lenny will be very lucky if he can get Tillie out
by the end of the month, partly because he waited
so long before giving her the three-day notice. If
Lenny had given Tillie the notice on November 4,
the third day after that would have been November
7. Lenny could have filed his suit on the 8th and
gotten Tillie out a week sooner.
Checklist for Uncontested Three-Day
Notice Eviction
Here are the steps involved in evicting on the grounds
covered in this chapter, if the tenant defaults. We cover
some of the subjects (for example, filing a complaint
and default judgments) in later chapters. As you work
your way through the book you may want to return to
this chart to see where you are in the process.
Preparing the Three-Day Notice to Pay
Rent or Quit
Pay very close attention to the formalities of preparing
and giving the notice. Any mistake in the notice,
however slight, may give your tenant (or her attorney)
an excuse to contest the eviction lawsuit. At worst,
a mistake in the three-day notice may render your
unlawful detainer lawsuit “fatally defective”—which
means you not only lose, but very likely will have to
pay the tenant’s court costs and attorney’s fees if she is
represented by a lawyer, and will have to start all over
again with a correct three-day notice.
Requirements of a Three-Day Notice
In addition to stating the correct amount of past due
rent and the dates for which it is due (see the next
section), your three-day notice must contain all of the
following:
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 13
Checklist for Uncontested Three-Day Notice Eviction
Step Earliest Time to Do It
1. Prepare the Summons (or Summonses, if there is more
than one tenant) and Complaint and make copies.
(Chapter 6)
Any day after the rent is due—for example, on or after
the second of the month when the rent is due on the
fi rst. (If rent due date falls on Saturday, Sunday, or
holiday, it’s due the next business day.)
2.
Prepare and serve the three-day notice on the tenant.
Late in the third day after service of the three-day notice.
3. File the Complaint at the courthouse and have the
Summons(es) issued. (Chapter 6)
The fourth day after service of the three-day notice, or,
if the third day after service falls on a Saturday, Sunday,
or holiday, the second business day after that third day.
4. Have the sheriff, the marshal, or a friend serve the
Summons and Complaint. (Chapter 6)
As soon as possible after fi ling the Complaint and
having the Summons(es) issued.
5. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment,
Declaration, and Writ of Possession. (Chapter 7)
While you’re waiting for fi ve-day (or 15-day, if Complaint
not personally served) response time to pass.
6. Call the court to fi nd out whether or not tenant(s) has
fi led written response.
Just before closing on the fi fth day after service of
Summons, or early on the sixth day. (Do not count
holidays that fall on weekdays, however. Also, if fi fth
day after service falls on weekend, or holiday, count
the fi rst business day after that as the fi fth day.)
7. Mail copy of Request for Entry of Default to tenant(s),
fi le original at courthouse. Also fi le Declaration and
Proof of Service, and have clerk issue Judgment and
Writ for Possession for the property. (Chapter 7)
Sixth day after service of Summons and Complaint.
(Again, count fi rst business day after fi fth day that falls
on weekend or holiday.)
8. Prepare letter of instruction for, and give writ and
copies to, sheriff, or marshal. (Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above step. Sheriff or marshal
won’t evict for at least fi ve days after posting notice.
9. Change locks after tenant vacates. As soon as possible.
For Money Judgment
10. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment, and, if
allowed by local rule, Declaration in Support of Default
Judgment (or a Declaration in Lieu of Testimony).
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after property is vacant.
11. Mail Request for Entry of Default copy to tenant, fi le
request at courthouse. If Declaration in Lieu of Testimony
allowed, fi le that too, and give clerk judgment and
writ forms for money part of judgment. If testimony
required, ask clerk for default hearing. (Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above.
12. If testimony required, attend default hearing before
judge, testify, and turn in your judgment form for entry
of money judgment. (Chapter 7)
When scheduled by court clerk.
13. Apply security deposit to cleaning and repair of property,
and to any rent not accounted for in judgment, then
apply balance to judgment amount. Notify tenant in
writing of deductions, keeping a copy. Refund any
balance remaining. If deposit does not cover entire
judgment, collect balance of judgment. (Chapter 9)
As soon as possible after default hearing. Deposit
must be accounted for within three weeks of when the
tenants vacate.
14 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
• Your tenant(s)’s name(s).
• A description of the property: street address and
apartment or unit number, city, county, and state.
• A demand that the tenant(s) pay the stated amount
of rent due within three days or move. If you
just demand the rent and do not set out the
alternative of leaving, your notice is fatally defec-
tive.
• A statement that you will pursue legal action (or
declare the lease/rental agreement “forfeited”)
if the tenant does not pay the entire rent due or
move.
• Information on to whom, where, and how the
rent is to be paid.
• An indication—such as a signature by you, your
manager, or other person you authorize to sign
three-day notices—that the notice is from you.
You don’t need to date the notice, but it doesn’t
hurt.
Some rent control ordinances require three-day
notices to pay rent or quit to contain special
warnings. Check Appendix 1 and your ordinance if your
property is subject to rent control.
How to Determine the Amount of Rent Due
It’s essential that you ask for the correct amount of rent
in your three-day notice. That may seem easy, but a
demand for an improper amount is the most common
defect in a three-day notice. If, at trial, the court finds
that the rent due at the time the three-day notice was
served was less than the amount demanded in the
notice (in other words, the notice overstated the rent),
you will lose the lawsuit. (See Ernst Enterprises, Inc. v.
Sun Valley Gasoline, Inc. (1983) 139 Cal. App. 3d 355
and Nouratchan v. Miner (1985) 169 Cal. App. 3d 746.)
To calculate the correct amount, follow these rules.
Rule 1: Never demand anything in a Three-Day
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit other than the amount of
the past due rent. Do not include late charges, check-
bounce or other fees of any kind, interest, utility charges,
or anything else, even if a written lease or rental
agreement says you’re entitled to them.
Does this mean that you cannot legally collect these
charges? No. It simply means you can’t legally include
them in the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit or
recover them in an unlawful detainer lawsuit. You can
deduct these amounts from the security deposit or
sue for them later in small claims court. (See Chapter
20 of The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities.) You can evict a tenant for failure to
pay legitimate utility or other nonrent charges, even
though you can’t recover or ask for those charges in an
unlawful detainer lawsuit. (See “Using the Three-Day
Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit” in Chapter 4.)
Rule 2: Assuming the rent is due once a month and
the tenant simply does not pay the rent for the month,
you are entitled to ask for the full month’s rent in your
notice. The amount of rent due is not based on the
date the three-day notice is served, but on the whole
rental period. Thus, if rent is due in advance the first of
every month, and you serve a three-day notice on the
5th, you should ask for the whole month’s rent—that’s
what’s overdue.
Rule 3: If the tenancy is already scheduled to
terminate because you have given a 30-day, 60-day,
or other notice to that effect, you must prorate the
rent due. For example, if the tenant’s $900 monthly
rent is due June 1, but you gave her a 30-day notice
about three weeks earlier, on May 10, the tenancy is
terminated effective June 10. Your three-day notice
served after June 1 should demand only $300, the rent
for June 1 through 10. Because this can get tricky, we
don’t recommend terminating a tenancy in the middle
of the month or other rental period. If you serve a
three-day notice after having served a 30-day or 60-
day notice, you risk confusing the tenant and losing an
unlawful detainer action. (See Chapter 3.)
Rule 4: To arrive at a daily rental amount, always
divide the monthly rent by 30 (do this even in 28-, 29-,
or 31-day months).
Rule 5: If the tenant has paid part of the rent due,
your demand for rent must reflect the partial payment.
For example, if the monthly rent is $800 and your
tenant has paid $200 of that amount, your three-day
notice must demand no more than the $600 balance
owed.
Rule 6: You do not have to credit any part of a
security deposit (even if you called it last month’s rent)
toward the amount of rent you ask for in the three-day
notice. In other words, you have a right to wait until
the tenant has moved, to see if you should apply the
deposit to cover any necessary damages or cleaning.
(See Volume 1, Chapter 5.) Even if you called the
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 15
money “last month’s rent,” the tenant is entitled to have
this credited—before termination of the tenancy—only
if and when he has properly terminated the tenancy
with a 30-day or 60-day notice, or has actually moved
out.
Here are a few examples of how rent should be
calculated for purposes of a three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: Tom has been paying $1,000 rent to
Loretta on the first of each month, as provided by
a written rental agreement. On October 6, Tom still
hasn’t paid his rent, and Loretta serves him with a
three-day notice to pay the $1,000 or leave. (Loretta
has, in effect, given Tom a five-day grace period;
she could have given him the notice on October 2.)
Even though the rental agreement provides for a
$10 late charge after the second day, Loretta should
not list that amount in the three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: Teresa’s rent of $900 is due the 15th of
each month for the period of the 15th through the
14th of the next month. Teresa’s check for the period
from October 15 through November 14 bounced,
but Linda, her landlord, doesn’t discover this until
November 15. Now Teresa not only refuses to
make good on the check, but also refuses to pay
the rent due for November 15 through December
14. It’s now November 20. Teresa owes Linda
$1,800 for the two-month period of October 15–
December 14, and that’s what the notice should
demand. Linda should not add check-bouncing
charges or late fees to the amount. And even
though Teresa promises to leave “in a few days,”
rent for the entire period of October 15 through
December 14 is already past due, and Linda has the
right to demand it.
EXAMPLE: Terri and her landlord, Leo, agree in
writing that Terri will move out on July 20. Terri’s
$900 rent is due the first of each month, in advance
for the entire month. Terri will only owe rent for
the first 20 days of July, due on the first day of that
month. If Terri doesn’t pay up on July 1, the three-
day notice Leo should serve her shortly thereafter
should demand this 20 days’ rent, or 1/30th of the
monthly rent ($900/30 = $30/day) for each of the
20 days, a total of $600.
EXAMPLE: Tony pays $950 rent on the first of each
month under a one-year lease that expires July 31.
On June 30, he confirms to his landlord, Lana, that
he’ll be leaving at the end of July, and he asks her
to consider his $1,000 security deposit as the last
month’s rent for July. Lana has no obligation to let
Tony do this, and can serve him a three-day notice
demanding July’s rent of $950 on July 2, the day
after it’s due. As a practical matter, however, Lana
might be wiser to ask Tony for permission to inspect
the property to see if it’s in good enough condition
to justify the eventual return of the security deposit.
If so, there’s little to be gained by giving Tony a
three-day notice and suing for unpaid rent, since
by the time the case gets before a judge, Lana
will have to return the security deposit. (This
must be done within 21 days after Tony leaves.
See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 20.)
Special Rules for Rent Control Cities
You can’t evict a tenant for refusal to pay a rent
increase that was illegal under a rent control ordinance,
even if the tenant also refuses to pay the part of the
rent that is legal under the ordinance.
EXAMPLE: Owsley rents out his Santa Monica two-
bedroom apartments for a reasonable $650 per
month. After a year of renting to Tina on a month-
to-month basis, Owsley gave Tina a notice raising
the rent to $750. When Tina refused to pay the
increase, Owsley served her with a three-day notice
demanding that she pay the additional $100 or
move. Unfortunately for Owsley, Santa Monica’s
rent control board allowed only a 7% increase that
year, so that the most Owsley can legally charge is
$695. Since the three-day notice demanded more
rent than was legally due (under the rent control
ordinance), Tina will win any lawsuit based on the
three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: Suppose Tina refused to pay any rent at
all, in protest of the increase. Tina does owe Owsley
the old and legal rent of $650. But since Owsley’s
three-day notice demanded $750, more rent than
was legally due, the notice is defective. Owsley will
lose any eviction lawsuit based on this defective
16 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
notice, even though Tina refuses to pay even the
legal portion of the rent, because the three-day
notice must precisely demand the correct rent.
A three-day notice is also defective under a rent
control ordinance if the landlord at any time collected
rents in excess of those allowed under the ordinance
and failed to credit the tenant with the overcharges,
even though she now charges the correct rent and
seeks to evict based only on nonpayment of the legal
rent. Since the previously collected excess rents must
be credited against unpaid legal rent, any three-day
notice that doesn’t give the tenant credit for previous
overcharges is legally ineffective because it demands
too much rent.
EXAMPLE: Lois rented the apartments in her Los
Angeles building for $700 a month. In April, she
served Taylor with a notice increasing the rent
to $800, effective May 1. Taylor paid the increase
(without complaint) in May and June. In July, when
Taylor was unable to pay any rent at all, Lois
learned, after checking with the Rent Adjustment
Commission, that the maximum legal rent was
$721. She therefore served Taylor with a three-day
notice demanding this amount as the rent for July.
After filing an unlawful detainer complaint based
on the nonpayment of this amount, Lois lost the
case and had to pay Taylor’s court costs and
attorney’s fees. Why? First, since her rent increase
notice had demanded an illegally high rent, it
was void. The legal rent therefore was still $700.
Second, in May and June, Lois collected a total of
$200 more than that legal rent, which had to be
credited against the $700 Taylor did owe. Taylor
therefore owed only $500. Since Lois’ three-day
notice demanded more than this, it was ineffective.
Some rent control ordinances impose special
requirements on rent increase notices. Under state law
for month-to-month tenancies, all that’s required is a
written, notice of 30 days (60 days for a rent increase
of 10% or more over 12 months) that clearly states
the address of the property and the new rent—see
Chapter 14 of The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities. Quite a few rent-controlled
cities require rent increase notices to list a justification
or itemization of rent increases and other information.
A rent increase notice that fails to comply with all
requirements imposed by both state and local law is
of no effect. Therefore, any later Three-Day Notice to
Pay Rent or Quit based on the tenant’s failure to pay
the increased amount is void because, by definition, it
demands payment of more rent than is legally owed,
either by asking for the increased rent or by failing to
credit previous “excess” payments. In short, a landlord
will lose any eviction lawsuit based on this sort of
defective notice.
EXAMPLE: When Opal raised the rent on her
Beverly Hills apartment unit from $700 to $775,
an increase allowed under that city’s rent control
ordinance, she thought everything was okay. When
she prepared her 60-day rent increase notice,
however, she forgot about the part of the ordinance
requiring a landlord to justify and itemize the rent
increase and state in the notice that her records
were open to inspection by the tenant. Opal
collected the $775 rent for three months. The next
month, when her tenant Renee failed to pay rent,
Opal served her with a three-day notice demanding
$775. When the case got to court, the judge told
Opal her rent increase notice hadn’t complied with
city requirements and was ineffective, leaving the
legal rent at $700. Since Renee had paid the extra
$75 for three months, she was entitled to a $225
credit against this amount, so that she owed $475.
Since Opal’s three-day notice demanded $775, it
too was ineffective, and Renee won the eviction
lawsuit.
These problems occur most often in cities with
“moderate” to “strict” rent control ordinances, which
set fixed rents that a landlord cannot legally exceed
without board permission. (See The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 4.) To
remind you, moderate to strict rent control cities include
Berkeley, Santa Monica, Palm Springs, East Palo Alto,
Thousand Oaks, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, and Beverly Hills.
These problems are far less likely to occur in cities
with “mild” rent control, including Oakland, San Jose,
Hayward, and Los Gatos, where if the tenant fails to
contest a rent increase, the increase is usually considered
legally valid. Even if the tenant does contest the increase
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 17
in these “mild” cities, the proper legal rent will be
quickly decided by a hearing officer, making it less
likely the landlord will be caught by surprise later if she
has to evict for nonpayment of rent.
The moral of all this is simple: Pay close attention
to any rent control ordinance in the city in which your
property is located. Ask yourself the following questions:
• Have you owned the premises at all times when
the tenant was living there?
• If not, did the previous owner fully comply with
your rent control law?
• If so, have you fully complied with the notice
requirements for rent increases and charged the
correct rent?
If your answer is “no” to either of the last two
questions, your tenant may be due a refund before you
can evict for nonpayment of rent.
If your answer to these questions is “yes,” have you
fully complied with all other provisions of the rent
control ordinance? If so, you are probably in a position
to legally evict the tenant for nonpayment of rent.
Good-Faith Mistakes
Cities that require registration of rents (Berkeley,
Santa Monica, East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Palm
Springs, Thousand Oaks, and West Hollywood)
must limit the sanctions against landlords who make
good-faith mistakes in the calculation of rents. (Civ.
Code § 1947.7.)
How to Fill Out a Three-Day Notice
A sample Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit and
instructions for filling it out appear below. A blank
tear-out form is included in the forms section in the
back of this book. You may tear out the form or use a
photocopy. We recommend using a photocopy, because
you will probably use this form more than once.
Appendix 3 contains a tear-out Three-Day Notice to
Pay Rent or Quit. The CD-ROM that accompanies
this book also includes this form. Instructions for using the
CD and a list of file names are in Appendix 2.
Sign Pay or Quit Notices Yourself
A pay or quit notice signed by your lawyer may
trigger the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This
Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 and following) governs debt
collectors and requires, among other things, that
debtors be given 30 days in which to respond to
a demand for payment. A federal appellate court
in New York has ruled that when an attorney signs
a pay or quit notice, he or she is acting as a debt
collector. Consequently, the tenant must have 30
days to pay or quit, regardless of the state’s three-
day provision. (Romea v. Heiberger 163 F.3d 111
(2d Cir. 1998).)
Although this ruling applies only to New
York landlords, there is no reason why a tenant in
California could not bring an identical lawsuit.
To date, we are aware of none. To easily protect
yourself (or avoid the dubious honor of being the
test case), tell your lawyer that you want to sign pay
or quit notices yourself.
Step 1: Fill In the Tenant’s Name
The first blank is for the name(s) of the tenant(s) to
whom the three-day notice is addressed. This normally
should include the tenant(s) whose name(s) is (are)
listed on a written lease or rental agreement, or with
whom you orally entered into a rental agreement, plus
the names, if known, of any other adult occupants of
the property.
The California Supreme Court has ruled that in
order to evict an adult who claims to be a tenant but
is not on the lease or rental agreement, the landlord
must provide the person with notice of the unlawful
detainer action and an opportunity to be heard. This
usually means naming the person as a defendant in
the suit. For example, if a married couple occupies an
apartment but only the husband signed the lease, the
landlord must still name both the husband and wife as
defendants. Although this rule technically only applies
to unlawful detainer complaints (see Chapter 6), not
necessarily to the three-day notice, it’s still a good idea
to follow it here as well and name all adult occupants
in the notice. (C.C.P. § 1174.25; Arrieta v. Mahon (1982)
31 Cal. 3d 381, 182 Cal. Rptr. 770.)
18 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Step 2: Fill In the Address
The next spaces are for the address of the premises.
Include the street address, city and county, and
apartment number if your tenant lives in an apartment
or condominium unit.
In the unlikely event the unit has no street address,
use the legal description of the premises from
your deed to the property, along with an ordinary
understandable description of where the place is
located (for example, “the small log cabin behind
the first gas station going north on River Road from
Pokeyville”). You can retype the notice to make room
for the legal description or staple a separate property
description as an attachment to the notice and type “the
property described in the attachment to this notice” in
place of the address.
Step 3: Fill In the Rent Due
The next space is for the amount of rent due and the
dates for which it is due. You must state this figure
accurately. (See “How to Determine the Amount of
Rent Due,” above.)
Step 4. Fill In Payment Information
The next spaces tell the tenant to whom, where, and
how to pay the rent, as follows.
Under “RENT IS TO BE PAID TO,” check the box
next to “the undersigned” if the person who signs the
notice (such as the manager or owner) will receive the
rent. If someone else will receive the rent, check the
box next to “the following” and list the name of that
person.
Under “AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS,” give the
address where the rent should be paid (do not list a
post office box unless you want the rent to be mailed
to one). Give the telephone number of the person who
will accept the rent.
Under “IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER,” check one
or more boxes indicating how the rent will be accepted.
If you check “in person,” be sure to list the days and
hours when someone will be present to accept the rent.
For example, the office hours for a resident manager
might be “Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM through
5:00 PM.” If you check “by mail …” only, rent is legally
paid when mailed, regardless of when you receive it.
Do not omit any information on your three-day
notice. Failure to include all of the information
called for on the form may make the notice legally
ineffective. If your tenant refuses to move and you attempt
to evict on the basis of a legally defective three-day notice,
you’ll be tossed out of court and will have to begin all over,
with a new three-day notice.
Step 5: Sign and Date the Notice and
Make Copies
The “ultimatum” language—that the tenant either pay
the rent within three days or move out, or you’ll bring
legal action—and the “forfeiture” language are already
included in our printed form. All you need to add are
your signature and the date you signed it. The date is
not legally required, but it helps to clarify when the
rent was demanded. This date must not be the same
day the rent was due, but at least one day later.
Be sure to make several photocopies for your records;
the original goes to the tenant. If you serve a notice on
more than one tenant (see the next section), you can
give the others copies.
Step 6: Complete the Proof of Service Box on
Your Copy
At the bottom of the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or
Quit is a “Proof of Service,” which indicates the name
of the person served, the manner of service, and the
date(s) of service. You or whoever served the notice
on the tenant should fill out the Proof of Service on
your copy of the three-day notice and sign it. You do
not fill out the Proof of Service on the original notice
that is given to the tenant. If more than one person is
served with the notice, there should be a separate Proof
of Service (on a copy of the notice) for each person
served. Save the filled-out Proof(s) of Service—you’ll
need this information when you fill out the Complaint
and other eviction forms.
Serving the Three-Day Notice
on the Tenant
The law is very strict about when and how the Three-
Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit must be given to (“served
on”) your tenant(s). Even a slight departure from the
rules may cause the loss of your unlawful detainer
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 19
123 Market Street, Apartment 4
Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
To: ,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at ,
(street address)
City of , County of , California.
Please take notice that the rent on these premises occupied by you, in the amount of $ , for the period
from
to , is now due and payable.
YOU ARE HEREBY REQUIRED to pay this amount within THREE (3) days from the date of service on you of this notice or to
vacate and surrender possession of the premises. In the event you fail to do so, legal proceedings will be instituted against you
to recover possession of the premises, declare the forfeiture of the rental agreement or lease under which you occupy the
premises, and recover rents, damages, and costs of suit.
RENT IS TO BE PAID TO:
the undersigned, or
the following person:
AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
, California, phone: ( ) ;
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
In person. Usual days and hours for rent collection are:
by mail to the person and address indicated above
by deposit to account at , a financial institution
located within 5 miles of your rental at ,
California
by electronic funds transfer procedure previously established.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on ,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On , , I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On , , I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On , , I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
Tyrone Tenant
San Diego San Diego
June 1, 20xx June 30, 20xx
400
June 5, 20xx Lou Landlord
X
X
123 Maple Street, La Mesa
619 123-4567
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday
20 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
lawsuit if it is contested. As ever, if your property is
covered by a local rent control ordinance, be sure to
check for any special requirements, such as mandatory
language to be included in the notice, before using the
forms in this book.
When to Serve the Notice
The three-day notice can be given to your tenant any
day after the rent is due, but not on the day it is due.
For example, if the rent is due on the first day of each
month, a notice given to the tenant on that day has no
legal effect. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday,
or holiday, rent is still due on that day, unless your
lease or rental agreement specifies that it will be due on
the next business day. The three-day notice cannot be
given until the day after that.
EXAMPLE: Tyson pays monthly rent, due in advance
on the first of each month. If the first falls on a
Monday holiday, and since Tyson’s lease states that
rent is due on the next business day when the date
falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Tyson’s rent
is not legally due until Tuesday. This means the
three-day notice cannot be served until Wednesday.
This is one of the many technicalities of eviction law
that can haunt an unlawful detainer action from the
very beginning. Bizarre as it sounds, if you give the
notice only a day prematurely, and the tenant still doesn’t
pay the rent during the two to three weeks he contests
the lawsuit, you may still lose the case if the tenant
spots your mistake.
EXAMPLE: When Tiffany didn’t pay her $400 rent to
Leslie on Friday, January 1, Leslie prepared a Three-
Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit, giving it to Tiffany
the next day. Unfortunately for Leslie, she forgot
that her lease included a clause that specified that
when the rent due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday,
or holiday, the rent would be due on the next
business day. Therefore, the rent wasn’t actually
due until January 4, even though Tiffany’s lease
said it was due on the first, because January 1, New
Year’s Day, was a legal holiday; January 2 was a
Saturday; and January 3 was a Sunday. Oblivious to
all this, Leslie waited the three days, and, as Tiffany
still hadn’t paid the rent, Leslie filed her unlawful
detainer suit on January 6. Tiffany contested it,
and the case finally went to court on February 5.
Even though Tiffany clearly owed Leslie the rent
for January and February, Leslie lost the lawsuit
because she gave Tiffany the three-day notice
before the rent was legally past due. Now Leslie
will have to pay Tiffany’s court costs as well as her
own. Assuming Tiffany has still not paid the rent,
Leslie can, of course, serve a new three-day notice
and begin the eviction procedure again, poorer but
wiser.
In LaManna v. Vognar (1993) 4 Cal. App. 4th Supp.
4, 22 Cal. Rptr. 2d 501, a landlord lost a case for the
same reason illustrated in the example above. The
three-day notice was served on a Wednesday. The
third day after that was a Saturday. The tenant had
until the end of the following Tuesday to pay the rent
because Saturday and Sunday were not business days
and Monday was a legal holiday, Memorial Day. The
landlord could not legally file the eviction lawsuit until
Wednesday. Unfortunately, he filed one day early, on
Tuesday, and lost the case as a result.
If You Routinely Accept Late Rent
There is no law that gives tenants a five-day or any
other grace period when it comes to paying the rent.
If, however, you regularly allow your tenant to pay
rent several days or even weeks late, you may have
problems evicting the tenant. If your three-day notice
demands the rent sooner than the tenant is accustomed
to paying it, the tenant might be able to successfully
defend an eviction based on that three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: You routinely allowed the tenant to pay
by the fifth of the month, even though the rental
agreement states that the rent is due on the first. If
you now serve a notice on the second or third day
of the month, the tenant may be able to convince a
judge that you served the notice too early.
This is called an “estoppel defense” in legalese.
This means that one person (you) who consistently
fails to insist on strict compliance with the terms of
an agreement (in this case, prepayment of rent on
time) may be prevented or stopped (“estopped”) from
insisting on strict compliance at a later time.
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 21
To avoid problems, wait until after any traditional
grace period (that is, one that you’ve given regularly
in the past) has expired before serving the three-day
notice. Or, if the tenancy is one from month to month,
and the rental agreement requires that rent be paid on
the first of the month, you can reinstate the original
payment terms with a 30-day written notice. Doing so
allows you to insist that rent be paid on the first of the
month, regardless of past custom. (See The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter
3, for more information on and Sample Notice of
Reinstatement of Terms of Tenancy.)
Grace periods. Rent is due on a certain day under
many rental agreements (usually on the first of the
month), but late charges aren’t usually imposed until
several days later. Even so, the rent is still “due” on the
date the rental agreement or lease says it’s due, and
the Three-day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit can be served
the day after that (taking into account extension of the
due date by Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). Any
so-called grace period, after which late charges kick
in, has no effect on when the three-day notice can be
served.
EXAMPLE: Under the lease between Tom Tenant
and Lisa Landlady, Tom’s $900 rent is due on the
first day of each month, with a $25 late charge if
paid after the 5th. Despite this so-called five-day
grace period, the three-day notice can be served on
the day after the first of the month, assuming the
first doesn’t fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.
Despite the above, it generally isn’t a good idea
to serve a three-day notice before any late charge
comes due, for two reasons: First, if the rental agreement
or lease provides for a grace period and you never made
a habit of insisting on the rent before the late charge came
due, the tenant may be able to successfully defend against
the three-day notice if he or she was not accustomed to
paying it on time. (See “If You Routinely Accept Late Rent,”
above.)
Second, it isn’t a good business practice to serve a
three-day notice right away. It breeds unnecessary tenant
resentment and, in effect, gives the tenant a three-day grace
period anyway.
Who Should Serve the Three-Day Notice
Anyone at least 18 years old (including you) can legally
give the three-day notice to the tenant. It’s often best
to have it served by someone else. That way, if the
tenant refuses to pay the rent and contests the resulting
eviction suit by falsely claiming he didn’t receive
the notice (this is rare), at trial you can present the
testimony of someone not a party to the lawsuit who is
more likely to be believed by a judge. Of course, you
must weigh this advantage against any time, trouble, or
expense it takes to get someone else to accomplish the
service and, if necessary, appear in court.
Who Should Receive the Notice
Ideally, each person named on the three-day notice
should be personally handed a copy of it. This isn’t
always possible, though, and under certain circum-
stances it isn’t necessary. If you rented your property
to just one tenant, whose name alone appears on any
written rental agreement or lease, serve that person
with the three-day notice. (However, as discussed
below in the next section, you can sometimes actually
give the notice to a co-occupant of the property who
isn’t listed on the lease if you can’t locate the tenant
who is listed on the lease.)
If you rented to two or more tenants whose names
are all on the lease or rental agreement, it is legally
sufficient to serve just one.
(University of Southern
California v. Weiss (1962) 208 Cal. App. 2d 759, 769,
25 Cal. Rptr. 475.) If your agreement is only with one
tenant and that tenant has a roommate who is not on
the agreement, the notice should be served on both.
(See Briggs v. Electronic Memories & Magnetics Corp.
(1975) 53 Cal. App. 3d 900.) We recommend doing this
to minimize the possibility that a nonserved tenant will
try to defend against any subsequent eviction lawsuit
on the ground that he didn’t receive the notice.
You normally have no obligation to serve the three-
day notice on occupants who are not named in the
written rental agreement or lease and with whom you’ve
had no dealings in renting the property.
(See Chinese
Hospital Foundation Fund v. Patterson (1969) 1 Cal.
App. 3d 627, 632, 8 Cal. Rptr. 795, and Four Seas Invest-
ment Corp. v. International Hotel Tenants Ass’n (1978)
81 Cal. App. 3d 604.) However, as discussed above, it’s
best to serve all adult occupants of the premises.
22 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
How to Serve the Three-Day Notice
on the Tenant
The law is very strict on how the three-day notice must
be served on the tenant. It is not enough that you mail
the notice or simply post it on the door. There are three
legal methods of service for a three-day notice.
Personal Service
The best method of service of a three-day notice is to
simply have someone over 18 hand your tenant the
notice.
If the tenant refuses to accept the notice, it is
sufficient to drop or lay it at his feet. It is unnecessary
and possibly illegal to force it on the tenant’s person. If
the tenant slams the door in your face before you can
leave it at her feet, or talks to you through the door
while refusing to open it, it’s okay to slide it under the
door or shout, “I’m leaving a notice on your doormat”
while doing so.
Handing the notice to any other person, such as
someone who lives with your tenant but is not listed
as a cotenant on the written rental agreement, is
not sufficient except as described just below under
“Substituted Service on Another Person.”
Substituted Service on Another Person
If the tenant to whom you’re attempting to give the
three-day notice never seems to be home, and you
know where she is employed, you should try to
personally serve her there. If you are unable to locate
the tenant at either place, the law allows you to use
“substituted service” in lieu of personally giving the
notice to the tenant. In order to serve the notice this
way, you must:
1. Make at least one attempt to personally serve the
tenant at her home, but not succeed and
2. Make one attempt to serve her with the notice at
work, but still not succeed, and
3. Leave the notice, preferably with an adult, at
the tenant’s home or workplace. (Although one
California court ruled that a 16-year-old boy (but
not a younger child) could be served a three-day
notice on behalf of the tenant, the ruling is not
binding on all California courts (Lehr v. Crosby
(1981) 123 Cal. App. 3d Supp.7), and
4. Mail a copy of the notice to the tenant at home
by ordinary first-class mail.
(C.C.P. § 1162(2).)
Ask for the name of the person with whom you
leave the notice; you’ll need to include it in the
complaint you’ll file to begin your lawsuit (Chapter 6).
If you can’t get a name, you can just put a description
of the person.
Accomplishing Substituted Service. Substituted
service of the notice is not completed, and the
three-day period specified in the notice does not start
running, until you have left the copy with the “substitute”
person and mailed the second copy to the tenant at home.
The first day of the notice’s three-day period is the day after
both these steps are accomplished.
EXAMPLE: Tad should have paid you his rent on
the first of the month. By the fifth, you’re ready to
serve him with a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or
Quit. When you try to personally serve it on him at
home, a somewhat hostile buddy of Tad’s answers the
door, saying he’s not home. Your next step is to try his
workplace—the one listed on the rental application he
filled out when he moved in. You go there only to find
that Tad called in sick that day. You can give the notice
to one of his coworkers or to his friend at home, with
instructions to give it to Tad when they see him. After
that, you must mail another copy of the notice to
Tad at home by ordinary first-class mail. Substituted
service is complete only after both steps have been
accomplished.
“Posting-and-Mailing” Service
If you can’t find the tenant or anyone else at her home
or work (or if you don’t know where she is employed),
you may serve the three-day notice through a proce-
dure known as “posting and mailing” (often referred to
as “nail-and-mail”). To serve the notice this way, you
must do the following, in the order indicated:
1. Make at least one unsuccessful attempt to
personally serve the tenant at home
2. If you know where the tenant works, try
unsuccessfully to serve her at work
3. Post a copy of the notice on the tenant’s front
door, and
4. Mail another copy to the tenant at home by first-
class mail. (C.C.P. § 1162(3) and Hozz v. Lewis
(1989) 215 Cal. App. 3d 314.)
CHAPTER 2: EVICTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT 23
You may want to send the letter by certified mail and
save the mailing receipt the Postal Service gives you.
You can send it return receipt requested, so you know
when the tenant received it; on the other hand, some
people routinely refuse to sign for and accept certified
mail.
Another way around this problem is to talk to the
tenant—before you file an eviction lawsuit—and pin
her down as to having received the notice. (Don’t ask,
“Did you get my three-day notice?” Ask, “When are you
going to pay the rent I asked for in the three-day notice
I left you?”)
EXAMPLE: Tyler’s rent is due on the 15th of each
month, but he still hasn’t paid Lyle, his landlord,
by the 20th. Lyle can seldom find Tyler (or anyone
else) at home, and doesn’t know where (or if) Tyler
works. Since that leaves no one to personally or
substitute serve with the three-day notice, Lyle has
only the “posting-and-mailing” alternative. Lyle can
tape one copy to the door of the property and mail
a second copy to Tyler at that address by first-class
mail. Lyle should begin counting the three days
the day after both of these tasks are accomplished.
The three-day period after which Lyle can bring an
unlawful detainer lawsuit is counted the same way
as if the notice were served personally.
Proof of Service. Be sure the person who serves the
three-day notice completes the Proof of Service at the
bottom on an extra copy of the notice. (See above.)
After the Three-Day Notice Is Served
Your course of action after the three-day notice is
served depends on whether or not the tenant pays the
rent in full and whether the tenant stays or leaves.
The Tenant Stays
If the tenant offers the rent in full any time before the
end of the three-day period, you must accept it if it’s
offered in cash, certified check, or money order. If
you’ve routinely accepted rent payments by personal
check, you must accept a personal check in response
to a three-day notice unless you notified the tenant
otherwise in the notice itself. If you refuse to accept the
rent (or if you insist on more money than demanded in
the notice, such as late charges) and file your lawsuit
anyway, your tenant will be able to contest it and win.
(The only way to evict a month-to-month tenant who
never pays until threatened with a three-day notice is to
terminate his tenancy with a 30-day or 60-day notice—
see Chapter 3.)
If a properly notified tenant doesn’t pay before the
notice period passes, the tenancy is terminated. You
then have a legal right to the property, which you can
enforce by bringing an unlawful detainer action. (See
below and Chapter 6.)
You do not have to accept rent after the end of
the notice period.
In fact, if you do accept rent
(even part payments), you reinstate the tenancy and waive
your right to evict based on the three-day notice. For
example, if on the third day after service of a three-day
notice demanding $300 rent you accept $100, along with
a promise to pay the remaining $200 “in a few days,”
you will have to start over again with a three-day notice
demanding only the balance of $200, and base your
lawsuit on that. If you proceed with the lawsuit based on
the three-day notice demanding all the rent, the tenant may
be able to successfully defend the lawsuit on the ground
that you waived the three-day notice by accepting part
of the rent. Of course, you may want the partial payment
badly enough to be willing to serve a new notice. In that
case, accept it with one hand and serve a three-day notice
for the remaining unpaid amount.
The Tenant Moves Out
Once in a great while, a tenant will respond to a Three-
Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit by actually moving out
within the three days. If the tenant doesn’t pay the rent,
but simply moves after receiving the three-day notice,
he still owes you a full month’s rent since rent is due in
advance. The tenant’s security deposit may cover all or
most of the rent owed. If not, you may decide to sue
the tenant in small claims court for the balance.
Nolo’s book Everybody’s Guide to Small Claims
Court in California, by Ralph Warner, shows how to
sue in small claims court.
24 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
What if the tenant simply sneaks out within the three-
day period, but doesn’t give you the keys or otherwise
make it clear he’s turning over possession of the property
to you? In that case, you can’t legally enter and take
possession unless you either use a procedure called
“abandonment” or file an eviction suit anyway. If you
file suit, you must serve the summons and complaint by
posting and mailing, as described in “Serving the Papers
on the Defendant” in Chapter 6, and obtain a judgment.
For more information on the abandonment alternative,
and to decide whether it may be suitable under your
circumstances, see The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 19.
When to File Your Lawsuit
As we have stressed, you cannot begin your unlawful
detainer lawsuit until the three-day notice period expires.
The rules for counting the days are as follows:
• Service is complete when you personally serve
the three-day notice or, if you serve the notice
by “substituted service” or “posting-and-mailing”
service, three days after you have both (1) mailed
the notice and (2) either given it to another adult
or posted it (as described above).
• If you serve more than one tenant with notices,
but not all on the same day, start counting only
after the last tenant is served.
• Do not count the day of service as the first day.
The first day to count is the day after service of
the notice was completed.
• Do not file your lawsuit on the third day after
service is complete. The tenant must have three
full days after service to pay the rent or leave
before you file suit.
• If the third day is a business day, you may file
your lawsuit on the next business day after that.
• If the third day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
legal holiday, the tenant has until the end of the
next business day to pay the rent. You cannot file
your suit on that business day, but must wait until
the day after that. (LaManna v. Vognar (1993) 4
Cal. App. 4th Supp. 4, 22 Cal. Rptr. 2d 510.)
In the past, some judges (particularly some in Los
Angeles County) ruled that if you served your three-
day notice by posting-and-mailing or by “substituted
service” on another person—both of which involve
mailing a second copy to the tenant—you have to
wait an extra five days for the tenant to pay or move,
before filing suit. Now, however, the law is clear. You
do not have to wait an extra five days before filing
your complaint. (Losornio v. Motta (1998) 67 Cal. App.
4th 110, 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 799.) You should be prepared
to bring this to the attention of the judge during any
default hearing or trial if the judge or tenant raises the
issue. (See “Getting a Money Judgment for Rent and
Costs” in Chapter 7 and “The Trial” in Chapter 8.)
EXAMPLE: Toni failed to pay the rent due on
Monday, November 1. On November 11, Les
personally served Toni with the three-day notice at
home. The first day after service is Friday the 12th,
the second day is Saturday the 13th, and the third
day is Sunday the 14th. Since third day falls on a
Sunday, Toni has until the end of the next business
day—Monday the 15th—to pay the rent or leave.
Only on the 16th can Les file suit. ■
Eviction by 30-Day or 60-Day Notice
Overview of the Process ............................................................................................. 26
When a Tenancy May Be Terminated With a 30-Day or 60-Day Notice ....................... 26
Impermissible Reasons to Evict ................................................................................... 26
30-Day, 60-Day, and 90-Day Notices .......................................................................... 28
30-Day Notice for Tenancies of Less Than a Year .................................................... 28
60-Day Notices for Tenancies of a Year or More ..................................................... 29
90-Day Notices to Terminate Government-Subsidized Tenancies ............................ 29
Rent Control and Just Cause Eviction Ordinances ....................................................... 30
Nonpayment of Rent ............................................................................................. 32
Refusal to Allow Access ......................................................................................... 32
Relatives ................................................................................................................ 32
Remodeling .......................................................................................................... 33
Condominium Conversion or Demolition .............................................................. 34
Violation of Rental Agreement ................................................................................ 34
Damage to the Premises ........................................................................................ 34
Illegal Activity on the Premises ............................................................................... 34
Should You Use a Three-Day, 30-Day, or 60-Day Notice? ............................................ 35
Preparing the 30-Day or 60-Day Notice ...................................................................... 35
Serving the Notice ...................................................................................................... 38
When the Notice Should Be Served ....................................................................... 38
Who Should Serve the Notice ................................................................................ 39
Whom to Serve ...................................................................................................... 39
How to Serve the Notice on the Tenant .................................................................. 39
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................... 39
C H A P T E R
3
26 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
T
he second most common basis for unlawful
detainer lawsuits (after failure to pay rent) is the
tenant’s failure to move after receiving a 30-day
notice terminating the tenant’s month-to-month tenancy.
Overview of the Process
Before you can file an unlawful detainer lawsuit against
a tenant, you must legally terminate the tenancy. If the
tenant has a month-to-month tenancy, you can use a
30-day notice to terminate the tenancy if the tenant has
occupied the rental for less than a year. In most cases,
you must give a tenant 60 days’ notice if he or she has
lived in the property a year or more. (See “30-Day,
60-Day, and 90-Day Notices,” below.) Also, a 90-day
notice is required to terminate certain government-
subsidized tenancies. In most circumstances, you don’t
have to state a reason for terminating the tenancy.
This general rule, however, has some very important
exceptions, discussed below.
If the tenant doesn’t leave by the end of the 30 (or 60)
days, you can file your lawsuit to evict the tenant.
Checklist for 30- or 60-Day Notice Eviction
Below is an overview of steps involved in evicting on
the grounds covered in this chapter, assuming that the
tenant defaults. We cover some of the subjects (for
example, filing a complaint and default judgment) in
later chapters. As you work your way through the book,
you may want to return to this chart to see where you
are in the process.
When a Tenancy May Be Terminated
With a 30-Day or 60-Day Notice
There are basically two types of residential tenancies.
The first is a “fixed-term” tenancy, where the property
is rented to the tenant for a fixed period of time, usually
a year or more, and which is normally formalized with
a written lease. During this period, the landlord may
not raise the rent and may not terminate the tenancy
except for cause, such as the tenant’s failure to pay
the rent or violation of other lease terms. This type
of tenancy may not be terminated by a 30- or 60-day
notice.
Negotiating With Tenants
If a lease is in effect and for some important reason,
such as your need to sell or demolish the building,
you want the tenants out, you might try to negotiate
with them. For example, offer them a month or two
of free or reduced rent if they’ll move out before
their lease expires. Of course, any agreement you
reach should be put in writing.
The second type of tenancy is a “periodic tenancy,”
a tenancy for an unspecified time in which the rent is
paid every “period”—month, week, every other week,
and so on. A “periodic tenancy” that goes from month
to month may be terminated with a 30-day notice
(subject to the two restrictions introduced earlier). If
the rental period is shorter than one month, the notice
period can be shorter, too. The point is that the notice
must only be as long as the rental period.
Because the overwhelming majority of residential
tenancies are month to month, we assume 30 or 60
days is the correct notice period for terminating a
periodic tenancy using the procedures in this chapter.
How do you tell if your tenancy is month to month?
If you have been accepting monthly rent from your
tenant without a written agreement or if you have a
written rental agreement that either is noncommittal
about a fixed term or specifically provides for 30 days’
notice to terminate the tenancy, the tenancy is from
month to month. It is also a month-to-month tenancy
if you (or the owner from whom you purchased the
property) continued to accept rent on a monthly basis
from a tenant whose lease had expired.
Impermissible Reasons to Evict
A landlord can evict a tenant without a reason, but
not for the wrong reason. This means you can’t evict a
tenant:
• because of race, marital status, religion, sex,
having children, national origin, or age (Unruh
Civil Rights Act, Civ. Code §§ 51–53)
• if the tenant exercised the “repair-and-deduct”
remedy (by deducting the cost of habitability-
related repairs from the rent) within the past six
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 27
Checklist for 30- or 60-Day Notice Eviction
Step Earliest Time to Do It
1. Prepare and serve the 30- or 60-day notice on the
tenant.
Any time. Immediately after receipt of rent is best.
2. Prepare the Summons (or Summonses, if there is more
than one tenant) and Complaint and make copies.
(Chapter 6)
The 30th or 60th day after service of the 30-day or 60-
day notice is complete.
3. File the Complaint at the courthouse and have the
Summons(es) issued. (Chapter 6)
The fi rst day after the notice period expires.
4. Have the sheriff, the marshal, or a friend serve the
Summons and Complaint. (Chapter 6)
As soon as possible after fi ling the Complaint and
having the Summons(es) issued.
5. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment,
Declaration, and Writ of Possession. (Chapter 7)
While you’re waiting for fi ve-day (or 15-day, if
Complaint not personally served) response time to pass.
6. Call the court to fi nd out whether or not tenant(s) have
fi led written response.
Just before closing on the fi fth day after service of
Summons, or early on the sixth day. (Do not count
holidays that fall on weekdays, however. Also, if fi fth
day after service falls on weekend or holiday, count the
fi rst business day after that as the fi fth day.)
7. Mail copy of Request for Entry of Default to tenant(s),
fi le original at courthouse. Also fi le Declaration and
Proof of Service, and have clerk issue Judgment and
Writ for Possession for the property. (Chapter 7)
Sixth day after service of Summons and Complaint.
(Again, count fi rst business day after fi fth day that falls
on weekend or holiday.)
8. Prepare letter of instruction for, and give writ and
copies to, sheriff or marshal. (Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above step. Sheriff or marshal
won’t evict for at least fi ve days after posting notice.
9. Change locks after tenant vacates. As soon as possible.
For Money Judgment
10. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment, and, if
allowed by local rule, Declaration in Lieu of Testimony.
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after property is vacant.
11. Mail Request for Entry of Default copy to tenant,
fi le request at courthouse. If Declaration in Lieu
of Testimony allowed, fi le that too, and give clerk
judgment and writ forms for money part of judgment.
If testimony required, ask clerk for default hearing.
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above.
12. If testimony required, attend default hearing before
judge, testify, and turn in your judgment form for entry
of money judgment. (Chapter 7)
When scheduled by court clerk.
13. Apply security deposit to cleaning and repair of property,
and to any rent not accounted for in judgment, then
apply balance to judgment amount. Notify tenant in
writing of deductions, keeping a copy. Refund any
balance remaining. If deposit does not cover entire
judgment, collect balance of judgment. (Chapter 9)
As soon as possible after default hearing. Deposit
must be accounted for within three weeks of when the
tenants vacate.
28 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
months, unless the notice states a valid reason for
terminating the tenancy
• because he complained about the premises to
local authorities, exercised rights given to tenants
by law, or engaged in behavior protected by the
First Amendment—for example, organizing other
tenants. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 15.)
If you evict for an illegal reason, or if it looks like
you are trying to, your tenant can defend the unlawful
detainer lawsuit or sue you later for damages. Generally,
if any of the elements listed below are present, you
should think twice about evicting with a 30-day or
60-day notice that doesn’t state a valid reason. Even
though you state a valid reason, the tenant can still
sue if she believes the eviction was illegally motivated.
Conversely, even if you state no reason, your eviction
will be upheld if you prevail over the tenant’s defense.
The main reason to state a valid reason (except in rent
control areas where the reason must be stated) is to
convince the tenant not to be paranoid.
Think twice about evicting with such a notice and
without a valid business reason when any of the
following are true:
• The tenant is a member of a racial, ethnic, or
religious minority group.
• The tenant is gay.
• The tenant has children and your other tenants
don’t.
• The tenant has recently (say within a year)
complained to the authorities about the premises.
• The tenant has recently (within six months)
lawfully withheld rent.
• The tenant has organized a tenants’ union.
• The tenant is handicapped.
• The tenant is elderly.
• The tenant receives public assistance.
If none of these factors is present (and the premises
are not covered by a rent control ordinance or rented
under a government-subsidized program), you will
probably have no problem using a 30-day or 60-day
notice, without specifying a reason, to terminate a
tenancy.
Federal Housing Programs
“Section 8” refers to Section 8 of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. § 1437f), and
“Section 236” refers to Section 236 of the National
Housing Act of 1949 (12 U.S.C. § 1517z-1). Both
are federal laws providing government housing
assistance to low-income families. For additional
information about the more stringent requirements
for eviction from government-subsidized rentals,
see Civ. Code § 1954.535 and the following cases:
Appel v. Beyer (1974) 39 Cal. App. 3d Supp. 7;
Gallman v. Pierce (1986, N.D. Cal.) 639 F. Supp.
472; Mitchell v. Poole (1988) 203 Cal. App. 3d Supp.
1; Gersten Companies v. Deloney (1989) 212 Cal.
App. 3d 1119; and 24 C.F.R. §§ 450 and following,
§§ 882 and following.
30-Day, 60-Day, and 90-Day Notices
To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, you must
give written notice to the tenant. You need give
only 30 days’ notice if your tenant has occupied the
property for less than a year, 60 days’ notice if the
tenant has been in the property a year or more, and
90 days’ notice for certain government-subsidized
tenancies. Regardless of which notice is required, you
must comply with any just-cause eviction provisions
of any applicable rent control ordinances—which
usually includes listing the reason for the termination of
tenancy.
30-Day Notice for Tenancies of
Less Than a Year
If your tenant has occupied your property for less than
a year, you must give him 30 days’ notice to terminate
a residential month-to-month tenancy. (Civ. Code
§ 1946.1(c).) This is true even for tenancies of shorter
periodic length, such as tenancies from week to week.
(However, the tenant need give only a week’s notice
to terminate a week-to-week tenancy, and so forth.)
Of course, you can give the tenant more than 30 days’
notice if you want to. The requirement is that you give
at least 30 days’ written notice.
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 29
Landlords cannot reduce their notice period to
less than 30 days.
Although agreements reducing
the landlord’s notice period to as few as seven days were
previously legal under Civ. Code § 1946, termination of
residential tenancies, as opposed to commercial ones, is
now governed by the newer Section 1946.1, which does
not refer to the possibility of such a reduced notice period.
We believe Civ. Code § 1946, with its language allowing
the parties to agree in writing to a shorter notice period, no
longer applies to residential tenancies.
One final word of caution: The “less than a year”
requirement refers to how long the tenant has actually
lived in the property, not the length of the most recent
lease term. For example, if your tenant has lived in
your rental house for the past year and a half, but
signed a new six-month lease eight months ago (so
that the lease expired and the tenancy is now month
to month), you must give 60 days’ notice. (See Section
2, below.) In other words, you start counting as of the
date the tenant started living in the unit, not when you
both signed the most recent lease or rental agreement.
60-Day Notices for Tenancies of a
Year or More
If your tenant has occupied the premises for a year or
more, you must deliver a 60-day notice to terminate a
month-to-month tenancy. (Civ. Code § 1946.1.) Again, this
is true even for periodic tenancies of shorter duration,
such as week to week, and regardless of any provision
in your rental agreement that specifies a shorter notice
period.
This 60-day notice requirement does not work both
ways. A month-to-month residential tenant who has
occupied your property for a year or more does not
have to give you 60 days’ notice. The tenant need give
you only 30 days’ notice to terminate the tenancy.
If you give your tenant a 60-day notice, the tenant
has the right to give you a written 30-day (or more)
notice, which (as long as it’s less than your 60-day
notice) will terminate the tenancy sooner than the
expiration of the 60-day notice that you delivered.
EXAMPLE: Lois Landlord has rented to Terri Tenant
for over a year. On March 1, Lois serves Terri with
a 60-day notice, terminating her tenancy effective
April 29. Terri, however, quickly finds a new place
and now wants to leave sooner than that. So, on
March 10, she gives Lois a written 30-day notice,
which terminates her tenancy on April 9. Assuming
she vacates on or before that date, she won’t be
responsible for any rent past April 9.
There is one extremely narrow exception to the
rule that a landlord must give a tenant 60 days’ notice
of termination of a month-to-month tenancy, where
the tenant has lived in the property a year or more.
This is where the landlord is in the process of selling
the property to an individual who is going to live in
it. Even if the tenant has occupied the property for a
year or more, the landlord can terminate the tenant’s
month-to-month tenancy with a 30-day notice if all the
following are true:
• The property is a single-family home or condo-
minium unit (as opposed to an apartment unit).
• You are selling the property to an actual (“bona
fide”) purchaser (as opposed to transferring it
to a relative for less than fair market price, for
example).
• The buyer is an individual (not a corporation,
partnership, or LLC) who intends to occupy the
property for a year.
• You and the buyer have opened an escrow for
the sale to be consummated.
• You give the 30-day notice within 120 days of
opening the escrow.
• You have never previously invoked this exception,
with respect to this property.
Unless all the above things are true, you must give
the tenant at least 60 days’ written notice to terminate a
month-to-month or other periodic tenancy, if the tenant
has occupied the property for a year or more.
90-Day Notices to Terminate Government-
Subsidized Tenancies
If you receive rent or other subsidies from federal, state,
or local governments, you may evict only for certain
reasons. Acceptable reasons for termination are usually
listed in the form lease drafted by the agency or in the
agency’s regulations. If your tenants receive assistance
from a local housing authority under a “Section 8”
or other similar program of a federal, state, or local
agency, you must very specifically state the reasons for
termination in the 90-day notice, not a 30-day or 60-day
30 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
notice, saying what acts the tenant did, and when, that
violated the lease or otherwise constitute good cause
for eviction. (Civ. Code § 1953.545; Wasatch Property
Management v. Del Grate, 35 Cal. 4th 1111 (2005).)
Allowable reasons for eviction are contained in the
standard form leases the housing authority requires the
landlord to use.
If you decide to terminate a Section 8 tenant because
you no longer wish to participate in the program,
simply say so on the termination form. Keep in mind,
however, that you cannot terminate for this reason until
that tenant’s initial rental term has elapsed. In addition,
during the 90-day period prior to termination, you
cannot increase the rent or otherwise require any
subsidized tenant to pay more than he or she paid
under the subsidy.
Rent Control and Just Cause Eviction
Ordinances
“Just cause” requirements for evictions severely limit the
reasons for which landlords can evict tenants. Landlords
are authorized to terminate a month-to-month tenancy
only for the reasons specifically listed in the particular
ordinance. Most just cause provisions also require
that the reason be clearly and specifically stated on the
notice (see below) as well as in a subsequent unlawful
detainer complaint.
Cities That Require Just Cause for Eviction
Berkeley Hayward San Francisco
Beverly Hills Los Angeles Santa Monica
East Palo Alto Oakland Thousand Oaks
Glendale San Diego
(2+ years’ tenancy)
West Hollywood
If your property is in a city that requires just cause,
the usual rules for 30- or 60-day notice evictions simply
do not apply. Even if an eviction is authorized under
state law, a stricter local rent control ordinance may
forbid it. For example, San Francisco’s rent control
ordinance, which does not permit eviction of a tenant
solely on the basis of a change in ownership, has been
held to prevail over state law, which allows eviction for
this reason if the tenancy is month to month. (Gross v.
Superior Court (1985) 171 Cal. App. 3d 265.)
EXAMPLE: You wish to terminate the month-to-
month tenancy of a tenant who won’t let you in the
premises to make repairs, even though you have
given reasonable notice (all ordinances consider
this a just cause for eviction). You must give the
tenant a 30-day (or 60-day) notice that complies with
state law and that also states in detail the reason
for the termination, listing specifics, such as dates
the tenant refused to allow you in on reasonable
notice. If the tenant refuses to leave and you bring
an unlawful detainer suit, the complaint must also
state the reason for eviction (this is usually done
by referring to an attached copy of the 30-day or
60-day notice). If the tenant contests the lawsuit,
you must prove at trial that the tenant repeatedly
refused you access, as stated in the notice.
Before you start an eviction by giving a 30-day or
60-day notice, you should check Appendix 1, which
lists the just cause requirements of each city with
rent control, and a current copy of your ordinance.
(For a more thorough discussion of rent control,
see The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 4.) Do this carefully. If you are
confused, talk to your local landlords’ association or
an attorney in your area who regularly practices in this
field.
Although cities’ ordinances differ in detail, the basic
reasons that constitute “just cause” are pretty much the
same in all of them. Most rent control ordinances allow
the following justifications for terminating a month-to-
month tenancy with a 30-day or 60-day notice.
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 31
Just Cause Protection in San Diego and Glendale
Two non-rent-control California cities—San Diego and
Glendale—require a landlord in certain cases to have
“just cause” to terminate a tenancy, even one from
month-to-month. In your termination notice, you must
state which reason justifies your actions.
San Diego.
San Diego’s just-cause-eviction rules
apply only where the tenant has lived in the property
for two years. (San Diego Municipal Code §§ 98.0701
through 98.0760.) With such tenants, the landlord may
terminate the tenancy only for the following reasons:
• Nonpayment of rent, violation of “a lawful and
material obligation or covenant of the tenancy,”
commission of a nuisance, or illegal use of the
premises. These grounds duplicate those in state
law. You may use the three-day notice to pay
rent or quit, notice to cure covenant or quit, or
unconditional notice to quit (nuisance or illegal
use) in the forms appendix in this book when
terminating such tenancies.
• Refusal to give the landlord reasonable access to
the rental unit for the purpose of making repairs
or improvements, or for the purpose of inspection
as permitted or required by the lease or by law,
or for the purpose of showing the rental unit to a
prospective purchaser or mortgagee. If the lease or
rental agreement has a clause requiring the tenant
to allow access, you may use a three-day notice to
cure the covenant or quit. If the tenancy is month to
month, you may also choose an unconditional 60-
day notice of termination.
• Refusal “after written request of a landlord” to sign
a lease renewal “for a further term of like duration
with similar provisions.”
• To make necessary repairs or construction when
removing the tenant is reasonably necessary to
do the job, provided the landlord has obtained all
necessary permits from the city.
• When the landlord intends to withdraw all rental
units in all buildings or structures on a parcel of
land from the rental market, or when the landlord,
a spouse, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child,
grandchild, or a resident manager plans to occupy
the rental unit. These grounds may be used only if
the tenancy is month to month (under state law, you
must give 60 days’ written notice).
Glendale. Glendale’s just-cause-eviction rules
(Glendale Municipal Code §§ 9.30.010 through
9.30.100) allow eviction in the following situations (all
termination notices must be in writing and state the
landlord’s reasons for terminating):
• Nonpayment of rent, breach of a “lawful obligation
or covenant,” nuisance, or illegal use of the
premises or permitting any illegal use within 1,000
feet of the unit. “Illegal use” specifically includes all
offenses involving illegal drugs, such as marijuana
(without a doctor’s prescription). In these situations,
you may use a three-day notice.
• When an unauthorized subtenant not approved by
the landlord is in possession at the end of a lease
term.
• When a tenant refuses to allow the landlord
access “as permitted or required by the lease or by
law.” If the lease or rental agreement has a clause
requiring the tenant to allow access, you might
use a three-day notice to cure covenant or quit, or
an unconditional 60-day notice of termination of
tenancy if the tenancy is month-to-month.
• When the landlord offers a lease renewal of at least
one year, serves a notice on the tenant of the offer
at least 90 days before the current lease expires,
and the tenant fails to accept within 30 days.
• When the landlord plans to demolish the unit or
perform work on it that costs at least eight times
the monthly rent, and the tenant’s absence is
necessary for the repairs; or when the landlord is
removing the property from the rental market, or
seeks to have a spouse, grandparent, brother, sister,
in-law, child, or resident manager (if there is no
alternate unit available) move into the unit. Under
state law, these grounds may be used only if the
tenancy is month-to-month, and 30 or 60 days’
written notice is given. The landlord must pay the
tenant relocation expenses of two months’ rent for a
comparable unit plus $1,000.
32 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Don’t Get Tripped Up by
Rent Control Violations
Any violation of a rent control ordinance by you
can be used by a tenant to avoid eviction—even if
the part of the ordinance you violated has nothing
to do with the basis for eviction. For example, in
many “strict” rent control cities, as well as in Los
Angeles, where ordinances require landlords to
register their properties with rent boards, a landlord
who fails to register all the properties in a particular
building cannot evict any tenant in any of the
units for any reason—even if that particular unit is
registered. In these cities, a tenant could be months
behind in the rent and destroying his apartment,
but the landlord would be legally unable to evict
because he hadn’t registered some other apartment
in the same building with the rent board.
Similarly, a landlord’s minor violation, such
as failing to keep a tenant’s security deposit in a
separate account (if required), can be used by a
tenant to defend an eviction based on the tenant’s
repeated loud parties. Problems of this sort can be
avoided if you comply with every aspect of your city’s
ordinance.
Nonpayment of Rent
Although you can use a 30-day or 60-day notice to evict
a tenant who doesn’t pay the rent, you should almost
always use a three-day notice (see Chapter 2) instead. A
longer notice will delay the eviction, and you can’t sue
for back rent in your unlawful detainer action. (Saberi
v. Bakhtiari (1985) 169 Cal. App. 3d 509, 215 Cal. Rptr.
359.) It is, however, arguable that if you use a longer
notice based on nonpayment of rent, you deprive the
tenant of her right to a conditional notice that gives her
the chance to stay if she pays the rent. Although the
long notice gives more time, it’s unconditional, unlike a
three-day notice to pay rent or quit.
Refusal to Allow Access
If, following receipt of a written warning from you, the
tenant continues to refuse you or your agent access to
the property (assuming you give the tenant reasonable
notice of your need to enter—see The California Land-
lord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 13) to
show it to prospective buyers or to repair or maintain it,
you may evict the tenant.
Most ordinances require that tenants be given a
written warning before their tenancy is terminated by
notice. Thus, if the tenant refuses you entry, you should
serve, at least three days before you give the tenant
a 30-day or 60-day notice, a written demand that the
tenant grant access. Check your ordinance to make sure
you comply with its requirements for such a notice.
Before you begin an eviction on this ground, you should
answer “yes” to all the following questions:
• Was your request to enter based on one of the
reasons allowed by statute, such as to make
repairs or show the property? (See The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities,
Chapter 13, for more on this.)
• Did you give your tenant adequate time to comply
with the notice?
• Did you send a final notice setting out the
tenant’s failure to allow access and clearly stating
your intent to evict if access was not granted?
You should use a 30-day or 60-day notice to evict
on this ground, if the tenancy is month to month. If the
tenant rents under a lease, you can use only a three-day
notice to evict, and then only if the lease has a clause
specifically requiring the tenant to give you access to
the property.
Relatives
A landlord who wants the premises to live in herself
(or for her spouse, parent, or child) may use a 30-day
or 60-day notice to ask the existing tenants to leave,
provided the tenancy is month to month.
Some ordinances also allow landlords to evict tenants
so that other relatives of the landlord (such as step-
children, grandchildren, grandparents, or siblings) may
move in. Because some landlords have abused this
reason for eviction—for example, by falsely claiming
that a relative is moving in—most cities strictly limit this
option by requiring the termination notice to include
detailed information, such as the name, current address,
and phone number of the relative who will be moving
in.
In addition, severe rent control cities forbid the use
of this ground if there are comparable vacant units in
the building into which the landlord or relative could
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 33
move. Some cities allow only one unit per building
to be occupied this way, and most cities do not allow
nonindividual landlords (corporations or partnerships)
or persons with less than a 50% interest in the building
to use this reason. Los Angeles, West Hollywood, and
a few other cities go so far as to require landlords
evicting for this reason to compensate the tenant who
must move out. (See Appendix 1.)
Finally, rent control ordinances and state law ordi-
nances now provide for heavy penalties against landlords
who use a phony-relative ploy. State law requires that
in rent control cities that mandate registration, landlords
who evict tenants on the basis of wanting to move a
relative (or the landlord) into the property must have
their relative actually live there for six continuous
months. (Civ. Code § 1947.10.) Individual cities may
require a longer stay (San Francisco specifies 36 months).
If this doesn’t happen, the tenant can sue the landlord
in court for actual and punitive damages caused by the
eviction.
If a court determines that the landlord or relative
never intended to stay in the unit, the tenant can
move back in. The court can also award the tenant
three times the increase in rent she paid while living
somewhere else and three times the cost of moving
back in. If the tenant decides not to move back into
the old unit, the court can award her three times the
amount of one month’s rent of the old unit and three
times the costs she incurred moving out of it. The tenant
can also recover attorney fees and costs. (Civ. Code
§ 1947.10.) A court awarded one San Francisco tenant
$200,000 for a wrongful eviction based on a phony-
relative ploy. (Beeman v. Burling (1990) 216 Cal. App.
3d 1586, 265 Cal. Rptr. 719.)
If you are planning to evict on the ground of renting
the premises to a family member, you should answer
“yes” to all the following questions:
• Are you an “owner” as that term is described in
your ordinance for the purpose of defining who
has the right to possession?
• If a relative is moving in, does he qualify under
the ordinance?
• Will the person remain on the premises long
enough to preclude a later action against you by
the tenant?
• Does your notice provide the specific information
required by the ordinance?
• Are you prepared to pay the tenant compensation,
if required by your local ordinance?
Remodeling
A landlord who wants possession of the property to
conduct remodeling or extensive repairs can use a
30-day or 60-day notice to evict tenants in some
circumstances if the tenancy is month to month.
Because of the ease with which this ground for eviction
can be abused, most cities severely limit its use. For
instance, the Los Angeles ordinance requires that at
least $10,000 or more per unit (depending on the size
of the property) be spent on the repairs or remodeling
before eviction on this ground is allowed, and some
ordinances (for example, those in Berkeley and Santa
Monica) allow this ground only where the repairs
are designed to correct local health or building code
violations. In some cities, the landlord, once the repairs
are made, must give the evicted tenant the right of “first
refusal” to re-rent the property. All cities with just cause
eviction provisions require that the landlord obtain all
necessary building and other permits before eviction.
Finally, most cities allow the tenant to sue the landlord
for wrongful eviction if the work isn’t accomplished
within a reasonable time (usually six months) after the
tenant leaves.
If you plan to evict using this ground, you should
answer “yes” to all the following questions:
• Is the remodeling really so extensive that it requires
the tenant to vacate the property?
• Have you obtained all necessary permits from the
city?
• Are you prepared to pay the tenant compensation
if required by ordinance?
• Have you made all necessary arrangements with
financing institutions, contractors, and so on, in
order to make sure the work will be finished
within the period required by the ordinance?
• Have you met all other requirements of your local
ordinance, such as giving proper notice to the
tenant, offering the tenant the right to relocate
into any vacant comparable unit, or giving the
tenant the opportunity to move back in once the
apartment is remodeled?
34 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Condominium Conversion or Demolition
A landlord may evict to permanently remove
the property from the rental market by means of
condominium conversion or “good faith” demolition
(not motivated by the existence of the rent control
ordinance). But the notice of termination (which
must specify the reason) is only the last step in a very
complicated process. (In addition, the tenancy must
be month to month.) All cities allow this ground to
be used only after the landlord has obtained all the
necessary permits and approvals. Most cities have very
stringent condominium-conversion or antidemolition
ordinances that require all sorts of preliminary notices
to tenants.
A state statute, the Ellis Act, allows this
ground for eviction, but cities can (and do) restrict
application of the law, including requiring notice
periods of more than 30 or even 60 days—in some cases,
as much as 120 days or even a year. In recent years,
the legislature has considered bills that would affect
the removal of residential rental property from the
market. (One proposal would limit the landlord’s right
to demolish residential rental property occupied by
low-income tenants; another would limit the ability of
individual cities to impose restrictions on condominium
conversions.) Be sure to check for new legislation, on
the state and local levels, if your eviction is a first step
toward hoped-for condominium conversion.
Violation of Rental Agreement
If the tenant violates a significant provision of the rental
agreement, you can use a 30-day or 60-day notice to
initiate an eviction if the tenancy is month to month.
This ground also justifies evicting with a three-day notice,
but if one is used, the tenant must, in some cases, be
given the opportunity to correct the violation. (See
Chapter 4.) As a general rule, however, you should use
a 30-day or 60-day notice if the tenancy is month to
month. (See below.)
Violation of New Terms. Some cities prohibit
eviction for violation of a rental agreement provision
that was added to the original rental agreement, either
by means of a notice of change in terms of tenancy or by
virtue of a new rental agreement signed after the original
one expired.
Even in places without rent control, judges are
reluctant to evict based on breaches other than
nonpayment of rent. First, the breach must be
considered “substantial”—that is, very serious. Second,
you should be able to prove the violation with
convincing testimony from a fairly impartial person,
such as a tenant in the same building who is willing
to testify in court. If you’re unable to produce any
witnesses who saw (or heard) the violation, or who
heard the tenant admit to it, forget it.
Before you begin an eviction on this ground, you
should answer “yes” to the following questions:
• Was the violated provision part of the original
rental agreement?
• If the provision was added later, does your
ordinance allow eviction on this ground?
• Can you definitely prove the violation?
• Was the violated provision legal under state law
and the ordinance? (See The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 2.)
Damage to the Premises
If the tenant is disturbing other tenants or seriously
damaging the property, you can use a 30-day or 60-day
notice to initiate an eviction procedure. Under state law,
a three-day notice to quit that doesn’t give the tenant
the option of correcting the problem may also be used.
Some rent control cities (Berkeley, East Palo Alto, and
Hayward) require that a landlord give the tenant a
chance to correct the violation. (See Chapter 4.)
Illegal Activity on the Premises
If the tenant has committed (or, in some cities, been
convicted of) serious illegal activity on the premises, a
landlord may initiate an eviction by using a 30-day or
60-day notice if the tenancy is month to month. This
ground also justifies using a three-day notice, but you
should use the longer one if possible. (See Chapter 4.)
You should document the illegal activity thoroughly
(see Chapter 4), keeping a record of your complaints
to police and the names of the persons with whom you
spoke. And although not required by ordinance, it’s
often a good idea to first give the tenant written notice
to cease the illegal activity. If he fails to do so, the fact
that you gave notice should help establish that there’s a
serious and continuing problem.
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 35
Drug-Dealing Tenants. As stated earlier, it is
essential to do everything you can to evict any
tenant who you strongly suspect is dealing illegal drugs on
the property. A landlord who ignores this sort of problem
can face severe liability.
Should You Use a Three-Day,
30-Day, or 60-Day Notice?
As we have pointed out, some reasons for eviction under
a 30-day or 60-day notice, such as making too much
noise or damaging the property, also justify evicting
with a three-day notice, as described in Chapter 4.
If you can evict a tenant by using a three-day notice,
why give the tenant a break by using a 30-day or 60-
day notice? Simply because a tenant is more likely
to contest an eviction lawsuit that accuses her of
misconduct and gives her a lot less time to look for
another place to live. In places where you don’t have
to show just cause to give a 30-day or 60-day notice,
you also avoid having to prove your reason for evicting
(unless you must overcome a tenant’s defense based on
your supposed retaliation or discrimination).
Finally, if you base the three-day notice on trivial
violations, such as a tenant’s having a goldfish or
parakeet contrary to a no-pets clause in the rental
agreement, but you really want her out because she can’t
get along with you, the manager, or other tenants, you
are likely to lose your unlawful detainer suit. Judges
are not eager to let a tenant be evicted, with only three
days’ notice, for a minor breach of the rental agreement
or causing an insignificant nuisance or damage. If, on
the other hand, you use a 30-day or 60-day notice and
rent in an area that does not require just cause to evict,
you don’t have to state a reason. In other words, by
following this approach, you have one less significant
problem to deal with.
On the other hand, if your tenant has an unexpired
fixed-term lease, you cannot use an unconditional 30-
day or 60-day notice to evict. You then can only evict
if the tenant violates the lease; in that case, the three-
day notice must usually give the tenant the option of
correcting the violation and staying in the premises.
Finally, you should use a three-day notice if
your reason for evicting a month-to-month tenant is
nonpayment of rent (and you want the rent). That’s
because you won’t be able to sue for back rent in an
unlawful detainer lawsuit based on a 30-day or 60-day
notice (you’ll have to bring a separate, small claims
court suit to get the rent). Unless you are prepared
to go to two courts (or want to forgo the back rent
in favor of not having to prove a reason for the
termination), you’ll need to use a three-day notice.
(Saberi v. Bakhtiari, (1985) 169 Cal. App. 3d 509, 215
Cal. Rptr. 359.)
Preparing the 30-Day or 60-Day Notice
A sample Notice of Termination of Tenancy, with
instructions, appears below. As you can see, filling in
the notice requires little more than setting out the name
of the tenant, the address of the property, the date, and
your signature.
List the names of all adult occupants of the premises,
even if their names aren’t on the rental agreement.
Blank, tear-out versions of the Notice of Termination
of Tenancy are in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also
includes these forms. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
As mentioned above, some rent control ordinances
that require just cause for eviction require special
additions to 30-day or 60-day notices. For example, San
Francisco’s ordinance requires that every notice on which
an eviction lawsuit is based tell the tenant that she may
obtain assistance from that city’s rent control board. Also,
San Francisco’s Rent Board regulations require that the 30-
day notice quote the Section that authorizes evictions for
the particular reason listed.
In addition, many rent control ordinances require that
the reason for eviction be stated specifically in the notice
(state law doesn’t require any statement of a reason). For
example, under most just cause provisions, a notice based
on the tenant’s repeated refusal to allow the landlord access
to the property on reasonable notice must state at least the
dates and times of the refusals. And for terminations based
on wanting to move in a relative or remodel the property,
extra notice requirements are specified in detail in the
ordinance or in regulations adopted by the rent control
board. Check Appendix 1 for general information, and be
sure to get a current copy of your rent control ordinance
and follow it carefully.
36 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
30-Day Notice of Termination of Tenancy
(Tenancy Less Than One Year)
To: ,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at ,
(street address)
City of , County of , California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that effective 30 DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice, the periodic tenancy by
which you hold possession of the premises is terminated, at which time you are required to vacate and surrender possession
of the premises. If you fail to do so, legal proceedings will be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises,
damages, and costs of suit.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on ,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On , , I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On , , I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On , , I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
the instructions for completing the Proof of
Service are the same as those described under
the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
(Chapter 2) with one exception—service by
certified mail may be used
fill in tenant’s name(s)
list street address, including apartment number
date of notice owner’s or manager’s signature
if you are in a rent control city or are otherwise required by
law to state a reason for terminating a tenancy, insert it here
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 37
Rhoda D. Renter
950 Parker Street
Palo Alto Santa Clara
August 3, 20xx Lani Landlord
30-Day Notice of Termination of Tenancy
(Tenancy Less Than One Year)
To: ,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at ,
(street address)
City of , County of , California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that effective 30 DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice, the periodic tenancy by
which you hold possession of the premises is terminated, at which time you are required to vacate and surrender possession
of the premises. If you fail to do so, legal proceedings will be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises,
damages, and costs of suit.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on ,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On , , I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On , , I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On , , I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
38 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Also, if your tenant has made a complaint to you or
a local government agency, withheld rent because of a
claimed defect in the property, or participated in tenant-
organizing activity, your notice should state legitimate,
nonretaliatory reasons for terminating the tenancy. (Civ.
Code § 1942.5(c); Western Land Office, Inc. v. Cervantes
(1985) 174 Cal. App. 3d 724.)
You should not list the reason for the termination
unless you are in a high-risk situation as described in
“Impermissible Reasons to Evict,” above, or the local
rent control ordinance or government regulation (for
subsidized housing) requires it. If you do have to
include the reason, you may wish to check with an
attorney or other knowledgeable person in your area to
make sure you state it properly and with specificity; this
will help assure that your tenant cannot complain that
the notice is too vague or void under local law.
Serving the Notice
The law sets out detailed requirements for serving a 30-
day or 60-day notice on a tenant. If you don’t comply
with them, you could lose your unlawful detainer
lawsuit.
When the Notice Should Be Served
A 30-day or 60-day notice can be served on the tenant
on any day of the month. For example, a 60-day notice
served on March 17 terminates the tenancy 60 days later,
on May 16. (Remember to count 60 days, regardless
of whether any intervening month has 28, 29, or 31
days.) This is true even if rent is paid for the period
from the first to the last day of each month. There’s
one exception: if your lease or rental agreement requires
notice to be served on a certain day, such as the first of
the month.
The best time to serve the notice is shortly after you
receive and cash a rent check. Assuming the tenant
paid on time, this means the notice is given toward the
beginning of the month or rental period, so that the
last day of the tenancy will fall only one or two days
into the next month. The advantage is that you will
already have the rent for almost all of the time the tenant
can (legally) remain on the premises. If the tenant
refuses to pay any more rent (for the day or two in the
next month), you can just deduct it from the security
deposit. (See Chapter 9.)
EXAMPLE: Tess has been habitually late with the
rent for the last five months of her seven-month
occupancy, usually paying on the third day after
receiving your three-day notice. On October 2
you knock on Tess’s door and ask for the rent. If
you luck out and get her to pay this time, cash the
check and then serve Tess with a 30-day notice. The
last day of the tenancy will be November 1, and
she’ll owe you only one day’s rent. You can deduct
this amount from the deposit before you return it,
assuming you give the tenant proper written notice
of what you are doing.
Of course, if Tess doesn’t pay her rent on the
2nd, you can resort to the usual three-day notice. If
she still doesn’t pay within three days, you can sue
for nonpayment of rent as described in Chapter 2.
If you’ve already collected “last month’s rent,” you
can serve the 30-day notice (assuming the tenancy
has lasted less than a year) on the first day of the last
month without worrying about collecting rent first. Do
not, however, serve it so that the tenancy ends before
the end of the period (the last month) for which you
have collected rent. Accepting rent for a period beyond
the date you set in the 30-day notice for termination of
the tenancy is inconsistent with the notice and means
you effectively cancel it. (See Highland Plastics, Inc. v.
Enders (1980) 109 Cal. App. 3d Supp.1, 167 Cal. Rptr.
353.)
If you serve the 30-day or 60-day notice in the
middle of the month, your tenant may not be eager,
when the next month comes around, to pay rent for the
part of a subsequent month before the tenancy ends.
If this happens and you can’t settle the issue by talking
to your tenant, you can take the prorated rent for the
last portion of a month out of the security deposit.
(See Chapter 9.)
You could also serve the tenant with
a three-day notice to pay rent or quit for the prorated
rent due. We recommend against this, unless you’ve
given a 60-day notice and the tenant refuses to pay the
rent for the following full month. Using two notices
increases the chances that you will make a procedural
mistake. It complicates the eviction, increases hostility,
and probably won’t get the tenant out any faster.
CHAPTER 3: EVICTION BY 30-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE 39
If you are giving less than 30 days’ notice because
your rental agreement allows it but you collect your
rent once a month, be sure that the notice doesn’t
terminate the tenancy during a period for which you’ve
already collected rent. For example, if you collected the
rent for August on August 1, serving a seven-day notice
any sooner than August 24 would improperly purport
to end the tenancy before the end of the paid-for rental
period, August 31.
Who Should Serve the Notice
The 30-day notice may be served by any person over
age 18. (See Chapter 2.) Although you can legally serve
the notice yourself, it’s often better to have someone else
serve it. That way, if the tenant refuses to pay the rent
and contests the eviction lawsuit by claiming he didn’t
receive the notice, you can present the testimony of
someone not a party to the lawsuit who is more likely
to be believed by a judge. Of course, you must weigh
this advantage against any time, trouble or expense it
takes to get someone else to accomplish the service
and, if necessary, appear in court.
Whom to Serve
As with three-day notices, you should try to serve a copy
of the 30-day or 60-day notice on each tenant to whom
you originally rented the property. (See Chapter 2.)
How to Serve the Notice on the Tenant
The notice may be served in any of the ways three-day
notices can be served (see Chapter 2):
• by personal delivery to the tenant
• by substituted service on another person, plus
mailing, or
• by posting and mailing.
In addition, the notice can be served by certified
mail.
The statute does not require that it be sent return
receipt requested. The return receipt gives you proof
that the tenant received the notice, but it also entails a
risk, because a tenant can refuse the letter by refusing
to sign the receipt. In any case, the post office gives
you a receipt when you send anything by certified mail.
If you serve the notice by certified mail, we suggest
that you give the tenant an extra five days (in addition
to the 30 or 60 days) before filing suit. You may be
wondering why, since you do not need to add the extra
five days if you serve a three-day or other notice by
substituted service plus mailing or by posting and mailing.
(In Chapter 2, see “When to File Your Lawsuit” and its
explanation of the Losornio case that established this
rule.) The answer is that, in both a substituted service
plus mailing situation and a posting plus mailing
situation, there is a chance that the tenant will, in fact,
get the benefit of the full period (the person you’ve
served may give the tenant the notice, or the tenant
may pick up the posted notice, within the three or 30
or 60 days). When you serve using certified mail only,
however, there is no way that the tenant can get the
benefit of the full 30 or 60 days, since the notice will
necessarily sit in the post office and the mailbag for a
day or two at least, and there is no alternative way to
receive the notice. For this reason, we think that you
should add the five days to service accomplished via
certified mail only, although plausible arguments can be
made to the contrary. It’s best to take the time to serve
the 30-day notice personally.
Remember:
• Do not accept any rent whatsoever for any period
beyond the day your tenant should be out of the
premises under your notice.
• Accept only rent prorated by the day up until the
last day of tenancy, or you’ll void your notice and
have to start all over again with a new one.
• If you’ve given a 30-day notice, don’t accept any
rent at all if you collected “last month’s rent” from
the tenant, since that’s what you apply to the
tenant’s last month or part of a month.
• Be sure the person serving the notice completes a
Proof of Service at the bottom of an extra copy of
the notice, indicating when and how the notice
was served. (See “Preparing the Three-Day Notice
to Pay Rent or Quit” in Chapter 2.)
When to File Your Lawsuit
Once your 30-day or 60-day notice is properly served,
you must wait 30 or 35 (or 60 or 65) days before taking
any further action. If you file an unlawful detainer
complaint prematurely, you will lose the lawsuit and
have to start all over again. Here’s how to figure out
how long you have to wait:
40 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
• Service is complete when you personally serve
the notice, or after you have mailed it following
substituted service or posting. If you serve it by
certified mail, though, you should wait an extra
five days before filing suit.
• If you serve more than one tenant with notices,
but not all on the same day, start counting only
after the last tenant is served.
• Do not count the day of service as the first day.
The first day to count is the day after service of
the notice was completed.
• The tenant gets 30 or 60 full days after service.
Do not file your lawsuit until at least the 31st day
(plus any five-day extension on account of serving
by certified mail) after service is complete.
• If the 30th or 60th day is a business day, you may
file your lawsuit on the next business day after
that.
• If the 30th or 60th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday,
or legal holiday, the tenant can stay until the end
of the next business day. You cannot file your suit
on that business day, but must wait until the day
after that.
EXAMPLE: You personally served Tanya with her
30-day notice on June 3 (the day after she paid you
the rent). June 4 is the first day after service, and
July 3 is the 30th day. But July 3 is a Sunday, and
July 4 is a holiday. This means Tanya has until the
end of the next business day, July 5, to vacate. The
first day you can file your suit is July 6.
If you had served Tanya on June 3 using any
other method of service, she would have an
additional five days to leave, and you could file
suit on July 11 (or later if July 10 were a Saturday,
Sunday, or holiday).
Once you have waited the requisite period, and the
tenant has failed to leave, you can proceed to the next
phase, which is filing an eviction complaint. We tell you
how to do this in Chapter 6. ■
Eviction for Lease Violations,
Property Damage, or Nuisance
When to Use This Chapter .......................................................................................... 42
Checklist for Uncontested Nonrent Three-Day Notice Eviction ............................... 42
The Two Types of Three-Day Notices ........................................................................... 42
Using the Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit ........................................... 44
When to Use a Conditional Notice ........................................................................ 44
Preparing a Conditional Three-Day Notice ............................................................. 45
Using and Preparing an Unconditional Three-Day Notice to Quit ............................... 45
Serving the Three-Day Notice (Either Type) .................................................................. 48
When to Serve Notice ............................................................................................ 48
Who Should Serve the Three-Day Notice ............................................................... 49
Whom to Serve ...................................................................................................... 49
How to Serve the Notice ....................................................................................... 49
Accepting Rent After the Notice Is Served ................................................................... 49
When to File Your Lawsuit ........................................................................................... 52
C H A P T E R
4
42 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
T
his chapter is about evicting tenants who:
• engage in highly disruptive activity (for example,
making unreasonable noise, creating a
nuisance, threatening neighbors)
• destroy part or all of the premises
• clearly violate the lease or rental agreement
(for example, keeping a pet or subleasing
without permission)
• make illegal use of the premises (for example,
selling drugs), or
• fail to make a payment (other than rent)
that is required under the lease or rental
agreement (for example, late fee, security
deposit upgrade, utility surcharge). (If you
want to evict the tenant for nonpayment of
rent, use Chapter 2.)
When to Use This Chapter
Surprising as it may seem, you may prefer to use a
30-day or 60-day notice to terminate a month-to-month
tenancy instead of the three-day notice allowed under
these circumstances. Why would you want to take the
slower route? First, if you use a three-day notice, you
will have to prove your reason for eviction (the tenant’s
misconduct) in court, whereas with a 30-day or 60-
day notice you don’t have to (except in cities with
rent control that require just cause; see Appendix 1).
Second, a tenant who receives a three-day notice for
misconduct is a lot more likely to defend the suit. He
may want to vindicate his reputation, or get back at
you, or simply want some additional time to move. By
contrast, if you terminate a month-to-month tenancy
with a 30-day or 60-day notice, the tenant has time both
to move and to cool off emotionally, and will probably
exit quietly without finding it necessary to shoot a hole
in your water heater.
Also, to use a three-day notice successfully, the
problem you’re complaining about must be truly serious.
A judge will not order an eviction based on a three-
day notice for minor rental agreement violations or
property damage. For example, if you base a three-day
notice eviction on the fact that your tenant’s parakeet
constitutes a serious violation of the no-pets clause
in the lease, or that one or two noisy parties or the
tenant’s loud stereo is a sufficient nuisance to justify
immediate eviction, you may well lose. The point is
simple: Any time you use a three-day notice short of an
extreme situation, your eviction attempt becomes highly
dependent on the judge’s predilections, and therefore at
least somewhat uncertain.
For these reasons, you should resort to three-
day notice evictions based on something other than
nonpayment of rent only when the problem is serious
and time is very important.
Drug Dealing. If the tenant is dealing illegal
drugs on the property, the problem is serious. A
landlord who hesitates to evict a drug-dealing tenant (1)
faces lawsuits from other tenants, neighbors, and local
authorities; (2) may wind up liable for tens of thousands
of dollars in damages; and (3) may even lose the property.
Fortunately, you won’t be in the ridiculous position of
having to argue about the seriousness of drug dealing.
California law identifies such activity as an illegal nuisance
per se. (C.C.P. § 1161(4).)
It’s easier to evict drug-dealing tenants with a 30-day
or 60-day notice, especially in cities without rent control.
However, if the tenant has a fixed-term lease (which can’t
be terminated with a 30-day or 60-day notice), you will
have no choice but to follow the procedures set forth in
this chapter by using a three-day notice to quit. (See “Using
and Preparing an Unconditional Three-Day Notice to
Quit,” below.) You should start by getting other tenants,
and neighbors, if possible, to document heavy traffic in
and out of the tenant’s home at odd hours. Under these
circumstances, an attorney is recommended.
Checklist for Uncontested Nonrent
Three-Day Notice Eviction
Here are the steps involved in evicting on the grounds
covered in this chapter, if the tenant defaults (doesn’t
contest the eviction). We cover some of the subjects
(for example, filing a complaint and default judgments)
in later chapters. As you work your way through the
book, you may want to return to this chart to see where
you are in the process.
The Two Types of Three-Day Notices
Two kinds of three-day notices are covered here. The
first is called a Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit and
is like the three-day notice used for nonpayment of rent
CHAPTER 4: EVICTION FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR NUISANCE 43
Checklist for Uncontested Nonrent Three-Day Notice Eviction
Step Earliest Time to Do It
1. Prepare and serve the three-day notice on the tenant.
Any day the tenant is in violation of the lease, has
damaged the property, or has created a nuisance.
2. Prepare the Summons (or Summonses, if there is more
than one tenant) and Complaint and make copies.
(Chapter 6)
When it’s apparent the tenant(s) won’t leave on time; don’t
sign and date it until the day indicated below in Step 3.
3. File the Complaint at the courthouse and have the
Summons(es) issued. (Chapter 6)
The fi rst day after the lease term or tenant’s notice period
expires.
4. Have the sheriff, the marshal, or a friend serve the
Summons and Complaint. (Chapter 6)
As soon as possible after fi ling the Complaint and having
the Summons(es) issued.
5. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment,
Declaration, and Writ of Possession. (Chapter 7)
While you’re waiting for fi ve-day (or 15-day, if
Complaint not personally served) response time to
pass.
6. Call the court to fi nd out whether or not tenant(s) has
fi led written response.
Just before closing on the fi fth day after service of
Summons, or early on the sixth day. (Do not count
holidays that fall on weekdays, however. Also, if fi fth
day after service falls on weekend or holiday, count the
fi rst business day after that as the fi fth day.)
7. Mail copy of Request for Entry of Default to tenant(s),
fi le original at courthouse. Also fi le Summons and
Declaration and have clerk issue judgment and writ for
possession of the property. (Chapter 7)
Sixth day after service of Summons and Complaint.
(Again, count fi rst business day after fi fth day that falls
on weekend or holiday.)
8. Prepare letter of instruction for, and give writ and
copies to, sheriff or marshal. (Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above step. Sheriff or marshal
won’t evict for at least fi ve days after posting notice.
9. Change locks after tenant vacates. As soon as possible.
For Money Judgment
10.
Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment, and, if
allowed by local rule, Declaration in Lieu of Testimony.
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after property is vacant.
11. Mail Request for Entry of Default copy to tenant,
fi le request at courthouse. If Declaration in Lieu of
Testimony allowed, fi le that, too, and give clerk
judgment and writ forms for money part of judgment.
If testimony required, ask clerk for default hearing.
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above.
12.
If testimony required, attend default hearing before judge,
testify, and turn in your judgment form for entry of money
judgment. (Chapter 7)
When scheduled by court clerk.
13. Apply security deposit to cleaning and repair of property,
and to any rent not accounted for in judgment, then
apply balance to judgment amount. Notify tenant in
writing of deductions, keeping a copy. Refund any
balance remaining. If deposit does not cover entire
judgment, collect balance of judgment. (Chapter 9)
As soon as possible after default hearing. Deposit
must be accounted for within three weeks of when the
tenants vacate.
44 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
(see Chapter 2) in that it gives the tenant the option of
staying if he corrects his behavior within the three-day
period. If he doesn’t, then the tenancy is considered
terminated. Most three-day notices fit into this category.
The other type of three-day notice simply tells the
tenant to move out in three days. There is no option to
correct the behavior. This kind of unconditional notice
is allowed only in certain circumstances described
below.
We strongly recommend that you use the conditional
notice if any guesswork is involved. The consequences
of using the unconditional notice can be drastic if
the judge later disagrees with you and thinks that the
situation called for a conditional notice. In that event,
the judge will rule that your unconditional three-day
notice was void; you will lose the lawsuit, be liable for
the tenant’s court costs and attorney’s fees, and have to
start all over again with a new notice.
Using the Three-Day Notice to
Perform Covenant or Quit
In most situations, you’ll use a conditional three-day
notice, giving the tenant the option of correcting the
violation or moving out.
When to Use a Conditional Notice
If a tenant who has violated a provision of the lease or
rental agreement can correct her behavior, your three-
day notice must give her that option. As mentioned,
most lease violations are correctable. For instance:
• The tenant who violates a “no-pets” clause can
get rid of the pet.
• The tenant who has failed to pay separate
charges for utilities, legitimate late charges, or an
installment toward an agreed-on security deposit
can make the payment.
• The tenant who violates a lease clause requiring
him to allow you reasonable access to the prop-
erty (on proper notice—see Volume 1, Chapter
13) can let you in.
The list of potentially correctable lease violations is
endless. As a general rule, if the violation isn’t of the
type listed below, it’s probably correctable, and you
should use a three-day notice giving the tenant the
option of correcting the violation.
Rent control ordinances that require just cause for
eviction (many don’t) often dictate what kind of
notice must be used. For example, Berkeley’s ordinance
allows eviction of a tenant who damages the property
only after she’s been given a notice giving her a chance
to stop and to pay for the damage. State law does not
require the landlord to give any warning, but rather
authorizes an unconditional three-day notice to quit in
such a circumstance. These two sources of law can be
reconciled by giving the tenant two notices—first, the
warning or “cease and desist” notice required by the local
ordinance, followed by an unconditional three-day notice
to quit under state law. This can be very tricky, so if you’re
unsure about applicable eviction regulations or have any
doubt about the validity of your grounds for eviction, a
consultation with a landlord-tenant specialist will be well
worth the price.
If you attempt to evict a tenant in violation of a city’s
ordinance, you may be facing more than an unsuccessful
eviction. Depending on the circumstances and the city,
the tenant may come back at you with a suit of her own,
alleging any number of personal injuries—even if the
tenant defaults or loses in the underlying eviction action.
(Brossard v. Stotter (1984) 160 Cal. App. 3d 1067.) And,
as always, if you are not in compliance with the entire
ordinance, a tenant in an eviction lawsuit may successfully
defend on that basis.
Also, some rent control cities preclude eviction for
violations of a lease provision if the provision was added
to the original agreement, either by means of a notice of
change of terms in tenancy or by virtue of a new lease
signed by the tenant after the previous one expired. In
such cities, a landlord who, for example, rented to a
tenant with a pet couldn’t later change the terms of the
rental agreement with a 30-day notice saying no pets are
allowed, then evict for violation of that term after it goes
into effect. (Los Angeles’s ordinance specifically forbids just
this sort of eviction.) This would allow the landlord without
grounds for eviction to evade the just cause requirement by
changing the terms to assure the tenant’s breach. Even in
cities that do permit eviction based on after-added clauses,
the clauses still must be legal and reasonable. Also, every
city’s ordinance makes it illegal for a landlord to attempt to
evade its provisions. An unreasonable change in the rental
agreement that assures a tenant’s breach will most likely
be considered an attempt to circumvent any just cause
requirement, and will not be enforced.
CHAPTER 4: EVICTION FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR NUISANCE 45
If your property is located in a rent control city that
provides for just cause eviction (see Chapter 3), be sure to
check Appendix 1 and a current copy of your ordinance for
additional eviction and notice requirements that may apply.
Before using the violation-of-lease ground to evict a
tenant, ask yourself the following questions:
• Was the violated provision part of the original
lease or rental agreement?
• If the provision was added later, does a rent
control ordinance in your city preclude eviction
on this ground?
• If the violation is correctable (most are), does
your three-day notice give the tenant an option to
cure the defect?
• Does your city’s rent control ordinance impose
special requirements on the notice, such as
a requirement that it state the violation very
specifically, be preceded by a “cease-and-desist”
notice, or include a notation that assistance is
available from the rent board?
Preparing a Conditional Three-Day Notice
If you opt for the conditional notice, your three-day
notice to perform the lease provision (often termed a
covenant or promise) or quit should contain all of the
following:
• The tenant’s name. List the names of all adult
occupants of the premises, even if they did not
sign the original rental agreement or lease.
• The property’s address, including apartment
number if applicable.
• A very specific statement as to which lease or
rental agreement provision has been violated, and
how.
EXAMPLE: “You have violated the Rules and
Regulations incorporated by paragraph 15 of the
lease, prohibiting work on motor vehicles in the
parking stalls, in the following manner: by keeping a
partially dismantled motor vehicle in your parking
stall.”
• A demand that within three days the tenant
either comply with the lease or rental agreement
provision or leave the premises.
• A statement that you will pursue legal action or
declare the lease or rental agreement “forfeited”
if the tenant does not cure the violation or move
within three days.
• The date and your (or your manager’s) signature.
Two sample Three-Day Notices to Perform Covenant
or Quit appear below. The instructions for completing
the Proof of Service are the same as those described
under the Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. (See
Chapter 2.)
A blank, tear-out version of the Three-Day Notice to
Perform Covenant or Quit is in Appendix 3. The CD-
ROM also includes this form. Instructions for using the CD
are in Appendix 2.
Using and Preparing an Unconditional
Three-Day Notice to Quit
As noted above, under certain circumstances, the
three-day notice need not give the tenant the option
of correcting the problem. This is true in four kinds of
situations:
1. The tenant has sublet all or part of the premises
to someone else, contrary to the rental agreement
or lease.
2. The tenant is causing a legal nuisance on
the premises. This means that he is seriously
interfering with his neighbors’ ability to live
normally in their homes, for example, by
repeatedly playing excessively loud music late at
night, or by selling illegal drugs on the premises.
If you are tempted to use this ground, be sure
that you can prove the problems with convincing
testimony from a fairly impartial person, such as
a tenant in the same building who is willing to
testify in court. If you’re unable to produce any
witnesses, forget it.
3. The tenant is causing a great deal of damage
(“waste,” in legalese) to the property. Forget about
evicting on this ground for run-of-the-mill damage
caused by carelessness. It will work only in
extreme cases such as where a tenant shatters
numerous windows, punches large holes in walls,
or the like. Again, you must be able to prove the
damage convincingly.
46 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit
To:
,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at
,
(street address)
City of
, County of
, California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are in violation of the lease or rental agreement under which you occupy these
premises because you have violated the covenant to:
in the following manner:
YOU ARE HEREBY REQUIRED within THREE (3) DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice to remedy the violation
and perform the covenant or to vacate and surrender possession of the premises.
If you fail to do so, legal proceedings will be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises, declare the forfeiture
of the rental agreement or lease under which you occupy the premises, and recover damages and court costs.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on
,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On
,
, I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On
,
, I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On
,
, I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
Tammy Tenant
1234 4th Street
Monterey Monterey
pay agreed installments of the security deposit in the amount of $50 per month on the first day of each
month (in addition to the rent) until paid
failing to pay the $50 on the first day of the month of September 20xx
Sept. 25, 20xx
Leo Landlord
CHAPTER 4: EVICTION FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR NUISANCE 47
Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit
To:
,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at
,
(street address)
City of
, County of
, California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are in violation of the lease or rental agreement under which you occupy these
premises because you have violated the covenant to:
in the following manner:
YOU ARE HEREBY REQUIRED within THREE (3) DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice to remedy the violation
and perform the covenant or to vacate and surrender possession of the premises.
If you fail to do so, legal proceedings will be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises, declare the forfeiture
of the rental agreement or lease under which you occupy the premises, and recover damages and court costs.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on
,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On
,
, I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On
,
, I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On
,
, I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
Lester Lessee
123 Main Street, Apartment 4
San Jose Santa Clara
refrain from keeping a pet on the premises
by having a dog and two cats on premises
November 6, 20xx Linda Landlord
48 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Some rent control cities (for example, Berkeley,
East Palo Alto, and Hayward) require that the tenant
be given a written notice directing her to stop damaging
the property and pay the estimated cost of repairs before
you can evict using this ground. This requirement can be
satisfied by either a Three-Day Notice to Perform Covenant
or Quit, or a “cease and desist” notice followed by a Three-
Day Notice to Quit.
4. The tenant is using the property for an illegal
purpose (running a house of prostitution, dealing
drugs, or operating a legitimate business clearly
in violation of local zoning laws). You probably
can’t evict for minor transgressions such as
smoking marijuana on the premises. It is unclear
just how serious illegal activity must be to justify
eviction; there are very few court decisions
dealing with this question.
Because local police—or at least health depart-
ment employees—may be interested in the tenant’s
illegal conduct, make sure to make appropriate
complaints to them first. Keep a record of the
dates and times of your complaints, and the
name(s) of the person(s) with whom you spoke.
And, although not required by ordinance, your
record of having given the tenant written notice
to cease the illegal activity should also help
establish that there’s a problem.
No rent control ordinance requires the tenant be
given a chance to correct illegal use of property.
Some cities, however, allow eviction on this ground only if
the tenant is convicted of illegal activity. (See Appendix 1.)
The notice must contain:
• The tenant’s name. List the names of all adult
occupants of the premises, even if they didn’t sign
the original lease or rental agreement.
• The property’s address.
• A specific statement as to how and approximately
when the tenant violated the rental agreement
or lease in a way that can’t be corrected—for
example, if the tenant illegally sublet, created a
nuisance, damaged the premises, or illegally used
the premises. This is the most important part of
the notice, and must be drafted very carefully to
clearly tell the tenant what she is doing wrong.
Failure to be very specific regarding dates, times,
and conduct could render the notice void—
another reason why a 30-day or 60-day eviction
or, at least, a conditional three-day notice is
usually preferable.
Again, many rent control ordinances that provide
for just cause for eviction require that the reason to
use an unconditional three-day notice be stated even more
specifically than is required under state law. Check your
ordinance.
• A demand that the tenant leave the premises
within three days.
• An unequivocal statement that the lease is
forfeited and that you will take legal action to
remove the tenant if she fails to vacate within
three days.
• The date and your (or your manager’s) signature.
Two sample unconditional Three-Day Notices to Quit
appear below. The instructions for completing the Proof
of Service are the same as those described under the
Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. (See Chapter 2.)
A blank, tear-out version of the Three-Day Notice to
Quit is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also includes
this form. Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
Serving the Three-Day Notice
(Either Type)
A three-day notice telling a tenant to either comply with
a lease provision or vacate can be served any day the
tenant is in violation of the lease, but not before. For
example, if your tenant informs you of his intent to move
in a pet Doberman in violation of the “no pets” clause
in the lease, you can serve him with a conditional three-
day notice only as soon as he gets the dog. You can’t get
the jump on him by anticipating the violation. The same
is true of an unconditional Three-Day Notice to Quit.
You can serve the notice any time after the tenant has
illegally sublet, caused a nuisance, severely damaged the
property, or used the property for an illegal purpose.
When to Serve Notice
What happens if you’ve accepted rent for a whole
month and then want to give your tenant a three-day
notice? Should you wait awhile? Here are some general
CHAPTER 4: EVICTION FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR NUISANCE 49
rules about when to serve your tenants with three-day
notices:
• Serve a conditional notice right after you receive
the rent. That way, you won’t be out the rent
during the first month the eviction lawsuit is
pending. It’s perfectly reasonable to accept the
rent for the month and then demand, for example,
that the tenant get rid of her pet, anticipating that
she will comply.
• Serve an unconditional notice as close as possible
to the end of a rental period. If you serve the
notice right after you’ve collected the rent in
advance for a whole month, the tenant may claim
that by accepting the rent (assuming you knew
about the problem) you gave up your right to
complain. However, if you can prove that you
became aware of a noncorrectable violation
only a few days after having accepted rent, don’t
worry. If you get the tenant out within the month
for which the tenant has already paid rent, the
tenant does not get a refund for the days he paid
for but didn’t get to stay. By breaching the lease
or rental agreement, the tenant forfeited his right
to occupy the premises, even though he’d already
paid the rent.
• Never give a tenant an unconditional Three-
Day Notice to Quit concurrently with a Three-
Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. The two are
contradictory, one telling the tenant he can stay
if he pays the rent, the other telling the tenant to
move no matter what. Also, do not give the tenant
an unconditional Three-Day Notice to Quit along
with a 30-day or 60-day Notice of Termination
of Tenancy. These two are contradictory as well,
giving two different time periods within which the
tenant must leave unconditionally.
Who Should Serve the Three-Day Notice
As with a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit,
anyone over 18 can serve the notice, including you.
(See Chapter 2.)
Whom to Serve
As with other three-day notices, you should try to serve
a copy of the notice on each tenant to whom you
originally rented the property. (See Chapter 2.)
How to Serve the Notice
The three-day notice must be served in one of three
ways:
• personal service on the tenant
• substituted service and mailing, or
• posting-and-mailing.
You may not serve the notice by certified mail,
which may be used only for 30-day or 60-day notices
terminating month-to-month tenancies. Chapter 2
explains how to accomplish service.
Accepting Rent After the Notice
Is Served
With conditional three-day notices, don’t accept any
rent unless the tenant has cured the violation within
three days—in which case you can’t evict, and the tenant
can stay. If the tenant doesn’t correct the violation
within three days, don’t accept any rent unless you want
to forget about evicting for the reason stated in the
notice.
Don’t accept rent after you’ve served an unconditional
three-day notice unless you want to forget about the
eviction. Acceptance of the rent will be considered a
legal admission that you decided to forgive the violation
and go on collecting rent rather than complain about
the problem.
EXAMPLE: You collected a month’s rent from Peter
on March 1. On March 15, Peter threw an extremely
boisterous and loud party that lasted until 3 a.m.
Despite your warnings the next day, he threw
an identical one that night. He did the same on
the weekend of March 22-23. You served him an
unconditional Three-Day Notice to Quit on the
25th of the month, but he didn’t leave and you
therefore have to bring suit. The rent for March is
already paid, but you can’t accept rent for April or
you’ll give up your legal right to evict on the basis
of the March parties. However, you can get a court
judgment for the equivalent of this rent in the form
of “damages” equal to one day’s rent for each day
from April 1 until Peter leaves or you get a judgment.
50 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Three-Day Notice to Quit
(Improper Subletting, Nuisance, Waste, or Illegal Use)
To: ,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at ,
(street address)
City of , County of , California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are required within THREE (3) DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice to
vacate and surrender possession of the premises because you have committed the following nuisance, waste, unlawful use, or
unlawful subletting:
As a result of your having committed the foregoing act(s), the lease or rental agreement under which you occupy these
premises is terminated. If you fail to vacate and surrender possession of the premises within three days, legal proceedings will
be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises, damages, and court costs.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on ,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On , , I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On , , I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On , , I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
, , I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
Ronald Rockland
1234 Diego Street, Apartment 5
San Diego San Diego
You committed a nuisance on the premises by reason of loud boisterous parties at which music was
played at an extremely loud volume, and at which intoxicated guests milled about outside the front
door to the premises and shouted obscenities at passersby every night from February 26th through
28th, 20xx.
March 1, 20xx Laura Landlord
CHAPTER 4: EVICTION FOR LEASE VIOLATIONS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR NUISANCE 51
Three-Day Notice to Quit
(Improper Subletting, Nuisance, Waste, or Illegal Use)
To:
,
(name)
Tenant(s) in possession of the premises at
,
(street address)
City of
, County of
, California.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are required within THREE (3) DAYS from the date of service on you of this notice to
vacate and surrender possession of the premises because you have committed the following nuisance, waste, unlawful use, or
unlawful subletting:
As a result of your having committed the foregoing act(s), the lease or rental agreement under which you occupy these
premises is terminated. If you fail to vacate and surrender possession of the premises within three days, legal proceedings will
be instituted against you to recover possession of the premises, damages, and court costs.
Date:
Owner/Manager
Proof of Service
I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, served this notice, of which this is a true copy, on
,
, one of the occupants listed above as follows:
On
,
, I delivered the notice to the occupant personally.
On
,
, I delivered the notice to a person of suitable age and discretion at the
occupant’s residence/business after having attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant at his or her residence.
On
,
, I posted the notice in a conspicuous place on the property, after having
attempted personal service at the occupant’s residence, and business, if known, and after having been unable to find there a
person of suitable age and discretion. On
,
, I mailed a second copy to the occupant
at the property.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Signature
Leslie D. Lessee
2468 Alameda Street
San Jose Santa Clara
You have unlawfully sublet a portion of the premises to another person who now lives on the premises
with you, contrary to the provisions of your lease.
March 3, 20xx Mel Manager
52 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
When to File Your Lawsuit
Once you have properly served the notice you will
need to wait for the appropriate number of days to pass
before you take the next step, filing your lawsuit. Here
is how to compute this period:
• If you serve more than one tenant with notices,
but not all on the same day, start counting only
after the last tenant is served.
• Do not count the day of service as the first day.
The first day to count is the day after service of
the notice was completed.
• Do not file your lawsuit on the third day after
service is complete. The tenant must have three
full days after service before you file suit.
• If the third day is a business day, you may file
your lawsuit on the next business day after that.
• If the third day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
legal holiday, the tenant has until the end of the
next business day to correct the violation (if the
notice was conditional) or move. You cannot file
your suit on that business day, but must wait until
the day after that.
EXAMPLE: On November 11, Manuel personally
served Maria with a conditional three-day notice
at home. The first day after service is Friday the
12th, the second day is Saturday the 13th, and the
third day is Sunday the 14th. Since the third day
falls on a Sunday, Maria has until the end of the
next business day—Monday the 15th—to correct
the lease violation or leave. Only on the 16th can
Manuel file suit.
Once you have waited the requisite period, and the
tenant has failed to leave (or correct the violation if
your notice was conditional), you can proceed to the
next phase, which is filing an eviction complaint. We
tell you how to do this in Chapter 6. ■
Eviction Without a Three-Day
or Other Termination Notice
Lease Expiration .......................................................................................................... 54
Reminding the Tenant Before the Lease Expires ...................................................... 54
Is the Tenancy for a Fixed Term? ............................................................................. 55
Must You Have a Reason for Not Renewing a Lease? .............................................. 55
How to Proceed ..................................................................................................... 56
Termination by the Tenant ........................................................................................... 56
Checklist for Uncontested “No-Notice” Eviction ......................................................... 56
C H A P T E R
5
54 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
T
here are just two situations in which you may
file an eviction lawsuit against a tenant without
first giving a written three-day, 30-day, or 60-day
notice. They are:
• when the tenant refuses to leave after a fixed-
term lease expires, and you haven’t renewed it or
converted it into a month-to-month tenancy by
accepting rent after expiration of the lease term,
and
• when your month-to-month tenant terminates the
tenancy by giving you a 30-day notice, but then
refuses to move out as promised.
Rent control ordinances requiring just cause for
eviction in many cities limit evictions or add
requirements for eviction. Be sure to check the Rent
Control Chart in Appendix 1 and a copy of your city’s rent
control ordinance if your property is subject to rent control.
Lease Expiration
Unlike a month-to-month tenancy, a fixed-term tenancy
ends on a definite date, stated in the lease. No further
notice is necessary. However, unless you are careful
you may find yourself inadvertently renewing the lease
or converting it into a month-to-month tenancy. Here
are the basic rules:
• If you simply continue to accept monthly rent
after the termination date, the fixed-term tenancy
is automatically converted to a month-to-month
tenancy. (Civ. Code § 1945.) It must be terminated
with a 30-day or 60-day notice. (See Chapter 3.)
• If the lease has a renewal provision, your
acceptance of rent may automatically operate to
renew the lease for another full term.
EXAMPLE: Masao rented his house to Yuko under
a six-month lease for January 1 through June 30.
Although Masao assumed Yuko would leave on
June 30, Yuko is still there the next day. When
she offers Masao the rent on July 1, Masao accepts
it, believing this is preferable to filing an eviction
lawsuit, but tells Yuko she can stay only a month
more. At the end of July, however, Yuko’s lawyer
tells Masao that Yuko is entitled to stay under her
now month-to-month tenancy until and unless
Masao terminates it with a proper 30-day notice.
Masao gives Yuko a written 30-day notice on July
31, which means Yuko doesn’t have to move until
August 30.
In this example, Masao could have given Yuko a
one-month extension without turning the tenancy into
one from month to month. He need only have insisted
that Yuko, as a condition of staying the extra month,
sign a lease for a fixed term of one month, beginning
on July 1 and ending on July 31.
Reminding the Tenant Before the
Lease Expires
To avoid an inadvertent extension of the lease or its
conversion into a month-to-month tenancy, it is always
a good idea to inform a fixed-term tenant, in writing
and well in advance, that you don’t intend to renew
the lease. While not required, such a notice will prevent
a tenant from claiming that a verbal extension was
granted. A fixed-term tenant who knows a month or
two in advance that you want her out at the end of a
lease term is obviously in a good position to leave on
time. A tenant who realizes that the lease is up only
when you refuse her rent and demand that she leave
immediately is not. Your letter might look something
like this.
CHAPTER 5: EVICTION WITHOUT A THREE-DAY OR OTHER TERMINATION NOTICE 55
Notice to Tenant That Lease Will Not Be Renewed
November 3, 20xx
950 Parker Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Leo D. Leaseholder
123 Main Street, Apt. #4
Oakland, CA 94567
Dear Mr. Leaseholder:
As you know, the lease you and I entered into on
January 1 of this year for the rental of the premises
at 123 Main Street, Apartment 4, Oakland, is due to
expire on December 31, slightly less than two months
from now.
I have decided not to extend the lease for any period
of time, even on a month-to-month basis. Accordingly,
I will expect you and your family to vacate the
premises on or before December 31. You have the
right to request an initial move-out inspection,
and to be present at that inspection, provided you
request it no more than two weeks prior to your
move-out date. I will return your security deposit to
you in the manner prescribed by Section 1950.5 of
the California Civil Code, within three weeks after
you move out. If I deduct you also have the right to
receive copies of invoices or receipts for work needed
to remedy damage beyond normal wear and tear or to
perform necessary cleaning.
Sincerely,
Lenny D. Landlord
Lenny D. Landlord
The letter isn’t a legally required notice, but is just
sent to show your intent to assert your right to possession
of the property at the expiration of the lease. (However,
the part of the letter telling the tenant of her right to
an initial move-out inspection and to be present at it is
legally required, as is the part concerning the tenant’s
right to invoices and receipts. See The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities,
Chapters 5 and 18.) It doesn’t have to be served in any
particular way. It can be mailed first class. However, if
you’re afraid the tenant will claim she never received
the letter, you may want to send it certified mail, return
receipt requested.
Is the Tenancy for a Fixed Term?
If you want to evict a tenant who stays after her lease
expires, the first question to ask yourself is whether
or not the tenant actually did have a lease—or, more
accurately, a fixed-term tenancy. Since the titles of
standard rental forms are often misleading (a rental
agreement may be called a “lease” or vice versa),
you should look at the substantive provisions of the
document if you are in doubt. (We discuss this in detail
in Volume 1, Chapter 2.)
To summarize, if the agreement lists either a specific
expiration date or the total amount of rent to be
collected over the term, chances are it’s a lease. For
example, a clearly written lease might use this language:
The term of this rental shall begin on ,
20
, and shall continue for a period of
months, expiring on
, 20 .
As discussed above, the big exception to the rule
that no notice is required to end a fixed-term tenancy
is when you have, by word or action, allowed the lease
to be renewed, either for another full term (if there’s
a clause to that effect in the lease) or as a month-to-
month tenancy (if you continued to accept monthly
rent after the end of the term).
Must You Have a Reason for Not
Renewing a Lease?
A landlord’s reason for refusing to renew a lease is
treated the same way as is a landlord’s reason for
terminating a month-to-month tenancy with a 30-day
or 60-day notice. (See Chapter 3.) The general rule
is that (except in certain cities with rent control) you
don’t have to give a reason for refusing to renew the
lease. (If you’re in a rent control city that requires just
cause for eviction, read Chapter 3.) However, your
refusal may not be based on retaliatory or discriminatory
motives. Laws against illegal discrimination apply to
nonrenewal of fixed-term tenancies to the same extent
that they apply to termination of month-to-month
tenancies.
In rent control cities with just cause ordinances,
expiration of a fixed-term lease is generally not a
basis for eviction, unless the tenant refuses to sign a new
one on essentially the same terms and conditions. Most
56 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
ordinances don’t require you to give the tenant any specific
kind of notice, although San Francisco, Thousand Oaks,
and West Hollywood require that the tenant be requested
in writing to sign the new lease. (See Appendix 1.)
The best practice is to personally hand the tenant a
letter, at least 30 days before the lease expires, requesting
that she sign the new lease (attached to the letter) and
return it to you before the current one expires. Be sure to
keep a copy of the letter and proposed new lease for your
own records. Even if all this isn’t required by your city,
it will make for convincing documentation if the tenant
refuses to sign and you choose to evict for this reason.
How to Proceed
You may begin an unlawful detainer suit immediately if
all of the following are true:
• You conclude that your tenant’s fixed-term tenancy
has expired.
• You have not accepted rent for any period beyond
the expiration date.
• The tenant refuses to move.
Instructions on how to begin the suit are set out in
Chapter 6.
Termination by the Tenant
You can also evict a tenant without written notice when
the tenant terminates a month-to-month tenancy by
serving you with a legally valid 30-day notice but refuses
to leave after the 30 days. (As we saw in Chapter 3,
although you must give 60 days’ notice of termination
of tenancy to a tenant who has lived in the premises
a year or more, he or she need only give you 30 days’
notice.) Again, if you accept rent for a period after the
time the tenant is supposed to leave, you’ve recreated
the tenancy on a month-to-month basis and cannot use
this chapter.
If only one of several cotenants (see The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter
10) terminates the tenancy, the others may stay unless
the tenant who signed the notice was acting on their
behalf as well.
Because the tenant’s notice may be unclear in this
respect or may be invalid for other reasons (such as
failure to give a full 30 days’ notice), some landlords
follow a tenant’s questionable termination notice with
a definite 30-day notice of their own. This avoids the
problem of relying on a tenant’s notice, rerenting the
property and then finding, after the tenant has changed
her mind and decided to stay, that the notice is not
legally sufficient to terminate the tenancy. However,
this technique is no longer possible if the tenant has
stayed a year or more, in which case a 60-day notice is
required.
If you choose not to serve your own 30-day or 60-day
notice and instead want to evict on the basis that the
tenant has not vacated in accordance with her 30-day
notice, proceed to Chapter 6 for how to file an unlawful
detainer complaint. If you do decide to serve a 30-day
or 60-day notice of your own, turn to Chapter 3.
Checklist for Uncontested
“No-Notice” Eviction
Here are the steps required in this type of eviction,
assuming the tenant does not answer your unlawful
detainer complaint (that is, the tenant defaults). At this
point, much of the outline may not make sense to you,
as you have not yet read the chapters on filing the
unlawful detainer complaint, taking a default judgment,
or enforcing the judgment. As you proceed through
those chapters (or Chapter 8, if the tenant contests your
action), you may want to return to this chapter to keep
in touch as to where you are in the process.
CHAPTER 5: EVICTION WITHOUT A THREE-DAY OR OTHER TERMINATION NOTICE 57
Checklist for Uncontested “No-Notice” Eviction
Step Earliest Time to Do It
1. Prepare the Summons(es) and Complaint and make
copies. (Chapter 6)
When it’s apparent the tenant(s) won’t leave on time;
don’t sign and date it until the day indicated below in
Step 3.
2. File the Complaint at the courthouse and have the
Summons(es) issued. (Chapter 6)
The fi rst day after the lease term or tenant’s notice
period expires.
3. Have the sheriff, the marshal, or a friend serve the
Summons and Complaint. (Chapter 6)
As soon as possible after fi ling the Complaint and
having the Summons(es) issued.
4. Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment,
Declaration, and Writ of Possession. (Chapter 7)
While you’re waiting for fi ve-day (or 15-day, if Complaint
not personally served) response time to pass.
5. Call the court to fi nd out whether or not tenant(s) has
fi led written response.
Just before closing on the fi fth day after service of
Summons, or early on the sixth day. (Do not count
holidays that fall on weekdays, however. Also, if fi fth
day after service falls on weekend or holiday, count the
fi rst business day after that as the fi fth day.)
6. Mail copy of Request for Entry of Default to tenant(s),
fi le original at courthouse. Also fi le Declaration and
have clerk issue judgment and writ for possession of
the property. (Chapter 7)
Sixth day after service of Summons and Complaint.
(Again, count fi rst business day after fi fth day that falls on
weekend or holiday.)
7. Prepare letter of instruction for, and give writ and
copies to, sheriff or marshal. (Chapter 7)
Sixth day after service of Summons and Complaint.
(Again, count fi rst business day after fi fth day that falls
on weekend or holiday.)
8. Change locks. As soon as tenant vacates.
For Money Judgment
9.
Prepare Request for Entry of Default, Judgment, and, if
allowed by local rule, Declaration in Lieu of Testimony.
(Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after property is vacant.
10. Mail Request for Entry of Default copy to tenant, fi le
request at courthouse. If Declaration in Lieu of Testimony
allowed, fi le that, too, and give clerk judgment and
writ forms for money part of judgment. If testimony
required, ask clerk for default hearing. (Chapter 7)
As soon as possible after above.
11. If testimony required, attend default hearing before
judge, testify, and turn in your judgment form for entry
of money judgment. (Chapter 7)
When scheduled by court clerk.
12. Apply security deposit to cleaning and repair of
property, and to any rent not accounted for in
judgment, then apply balance to judgment amount.
Notify tenant in writing of deductions, keeping a copy.
Refund any balance remaining. If deposit does not
cover entire judgment, attempt to collect balance of
judgment. (Chapter 9)
As soon as possible after default hearing. Deposit must
be accounted for within three weeks of when the tenants
vacate.
■
Filing and Serving Your Unlawful
Detainer Complaint
How to Use This Chapter ............................................................................................ 60
When to File Your Unlawful Detainer Complaint ........................................................ 60
Where to File Suit ....................................................................................................... 60
Court Locations ...................................................................................................... 61
Other Courts .......................................................................................................... 61
Preparing the Summons .............................................................................................. 61
Preparing the Complaint ............................................................................................ 65
Preparing the Civil Case Cover Sheet .......................................................................... 78
Getting the Complaint and Summons Ready to File..................................................... 80
Filing Your Complaint and Getting Summonses Issued ................................................ 82
Serving the Papers on the Defendant ........................................................................... 82
Who Must Be Served.............................................................................................. 82
Service on Unknown Occupants (Optional) ............................................................ 82
Who May Serve the Papers ..................................................................................... 83
How the Summons and Complaint Copies Are Served ........................................... 84
Filling Out the Proof of Service of Summons Form ................................................. 89
What Next? ................................................................................................................. 94
C H A P T E R
6
60 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
A
fter you have legally terminated your tenant’s
tenancy by properly serving the appropriate
termination notice (or the tenancy has ended
because a lease expired or the tenant terminated it
himself), you can begin an unlawful detainer lawsuit to
evict the tenant. This chapter tells you how to prepare
and file a Complaint and Summons, the documents that
initiate your lawsuit.
How to Use This Chapter
The reason you’re evicting (nonpayment of rent, for
example) and the kind of notice you use to terminate
the tenancy (Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit,
for example) determine the actual wording of your
unlawful detainer Complaint. To keep you from getting
confused, we label the parts of our discussion that
apply to each type of eviction.
As you go through the instructions on how to fill
out the Complaint, simply look for the number of
your “home” chapter (the one you used to prepare the
termination notice) and start reading. You needn’t pay
any attention to the material following the other symbols.
Key to Symbols in This Chapter
Evictions based on nonpayment of rent—Three-Day
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Chapter 2)
Evictions based on a 30-day or 60-day notice
(Chapter 3)
Evictions based on lease violations, damage, or
nuisance—Three-Day Notice to Quit or Three-Day
Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit (Chapter 4)
Evictions based on termination of tenancy without
notice (Chapter 5).
If a paragraph is relevant only to certain types of
evictions, only the appropriate symbols will appear.
In addition, we occasionally refer you to the chapter
you started with (for example, Chapter 2 for evictions
based on nonpayment of rent). We also alert you to the
special requirements of rent control ordinances.
Okay, let’s start.
When to File Your Unlawful
Detainer Complaint
If you terminated the tenancy with
a three-day, 30-day, or 60-day
notice, you can file your unlawful detainer Complaint
when the notice period expires. You must be careful
not to file prematurely. If you file before the notice
period is over, there is no basis for the suit because
the tenancy was never properly terminated, and if the
tenant files a written response to your lawsuit, you will
lose.
It is therefore very important to correctly calculate
the length of the notice period. We explained how to
do this in the chapter you started out in (for example,
Chapter 2 for evictions based on nonpayment of rent,
Chapter 3 for evictions based on a 30-day notice). If
necessary, go back to the chapter covering your type of
eviction and review how to determine when the notice
period ends. Then return here for instructions on how
to fill in and file your unlawful detainer Complaint.
If, as discussed in Chapter 5, the tenancy has already
ended without a three-, 30-, or 60-day notice,
that is, if a lease has expired or the tenant terminated the
tenancy with a proper notice to you, you may file your
Complaint at any time.
Where to File Suit
Until recently, California had two levels of civil trial
courts: Municipal Courts, which heard cases involving
less than $25,000, and Superior Courts, which handled
cases over that amount. Because all residential evictions
for nonpayment of rent involved much less than $25,000,
they were heard in Municipal Court.
In November 1998, the voters amended the California
Constitution to allow each county to abolish its Municipal
Courts and consolidate them with the Superior Courts.
All California counties have done so. Now, there are
no more “Municipal” courts, only Superior Courts and
their various “branches” or “divisions,” some of which
were formerly Municipal Courts. (Because this change
is relatively new, some branches and divisions continue
to have “Municipal Court” building signs and telephone
listings.)
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 61
Court Locations
Most large counties divide their Superior Courts into
“divisions” or “branches.” (A notable exception is San
Francisco, whose Superior Court has no divisions or
branches.)
All California courts have Internet websites. You
can reach them by going to a central website: www.
courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/trial. Once you get to this main
website, you’ll see links to the superior courts.
File your lawsuit in the division or district where the
property is located. To make sure you have the right
court (some handle only criminal matters), call the civil
clerk of the superior court for the division or district in
which you think your rental property is located. You
can also find the court’s address and phone number in
the telephone book under “courts” or “superior court.”
Other Courts
In the past, unlawful detainer lawsuits were sometimes
filed in small claims courts and justice courts. This is
no longer true. Small claims courts do not hear eviction
cases. (C.C.P. § 116.220.) In November 1994, the State
Constitution was amended to rename justice courts as
municipal courts (Const. Art. VI, § 5), all of which are
also now Superior Courts.
Preparing the Summons
The first legal form that you’ll need to start your lawsuit
is the Summons. The Summons is a message from the
court to each defendant (person being sued). It states
that you have filed a Complaint (see “Preparing the
Complaint,” below) against the defendant, and that if
there is no written response to the Complaint within five
days, the court may grant you judgment for eviction and
money damages.
A blank, tear-out version of the Summons and Proof
of Service is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also
includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
If you photocopy the tear-out form in Appendix 3
and use both sides of the paper, or make a double-
sided print from the CD-ROM, be sure that the front
and back are in the same upside down relation to each
other as is the form in the back of this book. The form
is filled out in the same way no matter what the ground
for the eviction you are using. Using a typewriter, fill it
out as follows:
Step 1: “NOTICE TO DEFENDANT .”
You should name as defendants the following individuals:
• All adults who live in the property, whether or
not you made any agreement with them; and
• Any tenants who entered into the original rental
agreement and have since sublet the property.
(Such tenants are still legally in possession of the
property through their subtenants.) If none of
the original tenants is there, however, the current
tenants are probably “assignees,” not subtenants,
and you shouldn’t name the original tenants
as defendants. (See The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 10,
for more discussion of the subtenant/assignee
distinction.)
It is not enough to name the person you think of as
the “main” tenant. For example, if a husband and wife
reside on the property and are listed as tenants in your
lease, and the wife’s brother also lives there, you must
list all three as defendants. The sheriff or marshal will
not evict any occupant not named as defendant who
claims to have moved in before you filed suit. You may
then have to go back to court to evict the person you
forgot to sue. (Meanwhile, this person will be free to
invite the evicted tenants back as “guests.”)
Also, below the defendants’ names, type “DOES 1
to 5.” This phrase indicates that you are also naming
unknown defendants in your lawsuit, just in case you
later find out that there are unauthorized occupants
living on the premises in addition to the known tenants.
We discuss this in more detail in “Preparing the
Complaint,” Item 5.
Step 2: “YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF
.”
Type in the name of the plaintiff, or person suing. Here
are the rules to figure out who this should be:
1. If you are the sole owner of the property, you
must be listed as plaintiff (but see rule (4), below).
2. If there are several owners, they don’t all have to
be listed—the co-owner who rented to the tenant,
62 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
or who primarily deals with the manager, if there
is one, should be listed.
3. The plaintiff must be an owner of the property
(such as your spouse) or have some ownership
interest, such as a lease-option. A nonowner
manager or property management firm cannot be a
plaintiff. (See C.C.P. § 367.) Some property managers
and management companies have successfully
brought unlawful detainer actions in their own
behalf, without being called on it by a judge.
Still, a competent tenant’s attorney may raise this
issue on occasion and win, perhaps even getting
a judgment against the manager or management
company for court costs and attorney’s fees.
4. If the lease or rental agreement lists a fictitious
business name (for example, “Pine Street
Apartments”) as the landlord, you cannot sue
(either under that name or under your own
name) unless the business name is registered
with the county.
(See Bus. & Prof. Code § 17910
and following.) If the name is registered, list
it as the plaintiff if the property is owned by a
partnership. If you own the property alone but
use the business name, put your name followed
by “dba Pine Street Apartments.” (The dba means
“doing business as.”) If the name isn’t registered,
go down to the courthouse and get the process
started. This involves filling out a form, paying a
fee, and arranging to have the name published.
EXAMPLE: Jack Johnson and Jill Smith, a
partnership named “Jack & Jill Partnership,”
own a five-unit apartment building they call
“Whispering Elms.” Their rental agreements
list Whispering Elms as the landlord, and the
name is properly registered with the county as
a fictitious business name. They should enter
“Jack Johnson and Jill Smith, a partnership, dba
Whispering Elms” as the plaintiff.
EXAMPLE: Jill Smith owns the building herself,
but her rental agreements list Whispering Elms
as the landlord, and the name is on file with
the county. The plaintiff in her eviction suit
should be “Jill Smith, dba Whispering Elms.”
5. If a corporation is the owner of the property,
the corporation itself must be named as plaintiff
and represented by an attorney. Even if you’re
president and sole shareholder of a corporation
that owns the property, unless you’re a lawyer
you cannot represent the corporation in court.
(Although C.C.P. § 87 seems to allow this, this
statute was declared unconstitutional in Merco
Construction Engineers, Inc. v. Municipal Court
(1978) 21 Cal. 3d 724, 147 Cal. Rptr. 631.)
Step 3: (item 1 on the form)
“The name and address of the court is
.”
Put the name and street address of the court, “SUPERIOR
COURT OF CALIFORNIA,” the county, and the division
or branch in which your rental property is located. (See
above.)
EXAMPLE: Your property is located in the City of
Oakland, in Alameda County. Oakland is in the
“Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville” division, whose
Superior Court is located at 600 Washington Street,
Oakland. You should type in:
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ALAMEDA
OAKLAND-PIEDMONT-EMERYVILLE DIVISION
600 Washington Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Step 4: “CASE NUMBER .”
Leave this space blank. The court clerk will fill in the
case number when you file your papers.
Step 5: (item 2)
“The name, address, and telephone
number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff
without an attorney, is
.”
Place your name and mailing address along with a
telephone number at which you can be reached.
Since your tenant will receive a copy of the Summons,
he will see this address (to which the tenant must mail
a copy of any written response) and telephone number.
You may prefer to list a business address or post office
box and/or a business telephone number.
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 63
TERRANCE D. TENANT,
TILLIE D. TENANT, and
DOES 1 through 5
LENNY D. LANDLORD
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA,
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES,
110 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
LENNY D. LANDLORD, 12345 Angeleno St., Los Angeles, CA 90010. 213-555-6789
X
X
64 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRANCE D. TENANT, et al
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 65
Step 6: (item 3)
“An unlawful detainer assistant (B&P
6400-6415)
did not did for
compensation give advice or assistance
with this form.”
A nonattorney who is paid to fill out unlawful detainer
paperwork must be registered and bonded. This law
does not apply, however, to property owners or to
managers who prepare such forms for their employer
in the ordinary course of their duties (neither does it
apply to attorneys). If you are such a property manager
or owner, put an X next to the words “did not,” and
leave Item 6, on the second page, blank (but complete
the Caption, as explained below). If you are paying
a paralegal or other person to fill out or otherwise
process your papers (other than just having a process
server serve them), or to advise you on filling out the
forms, he or she must be registered with the county
and bonded, and the “did” box must be checked. That
person’s name, address, phone number, and registration
information must then be listed on the next page of
the Summons form. Provide the information requested,
and fill out the box at the top of the page by entering
the plaintiff’s and defendants’ names, as you did at the
top of the summons. You will need to file both pages
of the Summons, even if page 2 is blank except for the
Caption (which will be the case for those who did not
use an assistant).
Step 7: (item 4)
“NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You
are served…”
This part of the Summons is for the process server to
complete. The server needs to identify the defendant
as an individual or as someone who represents a
business entity. In residential eviction proceedings, the
defendant will always be an individual, so we have
gone ahead and preprinted the form with an X in Box
1. The process server will complete the rest of the form
when he or she completes the service. (See below
for more information on serving the Summons and
completing this part of the form.)
Step 8: Complete the Caption on Page Two.
Enter the names of the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s), just
as you did when filling out the top of the form on page
one. Do so even if you won’t be filling out Item 6 on
this page (see instructions for Step 9).
Step 9: (Item 6)
If you used an unlawful detainer assistant,
supply the information called for.
Leave these items blank if you did not use an assistant.
Preparing the Complaint
In the unlawful detainer Complaint, you allege why the
tenant should be evicted. The Complaint also formally
requests a judgment for possession of the premises and
any sums which you may be owed as back rent (in
nonpayment of rent evictions), damages, court costs, and
attorney fees. The original of your unlawful detainer
Complaint is filed with the court. A copy is given to
(served on) each defendant along with a copy of the
Summons. (See below.) Together, filing and serving the
Complaint and Summons initiate the lawsuit.
To fill out the Complaint correctly, you need to know
whether or not your property is located in an area
covered by rent control. To find this out, consult the
list of rent control cities in the Rent Control Chart in
Appendix 1. Many rent control ordinances that require
just cause for eviction require that the Complaint (as
well as the three-, or 30-, or 60-day notice) include
a specific statement of reasons for the eviction. This
requirement is satisfied by attaching a copy of the
notice to the Complaint and by making an allegation
(that is, checking a box; see Item 6c, below) in the
Complaint that all statements in the notice are true. Some
ordinances also require Complaints to allege compliance
with the rent control ordinance. If you don’t comply
with these requirements, the tenant can defend the
unlawful detainer suit on that basis.
Although many of these specific rent control require-
ments are listed in Appendix 1, we can’t detail all
the rent control ordinance subtleties, and we can’t
guarantee that your ordinance hasn’t been changed
since this book was printed. Therefore, it is absolutely
essential that you have a current copy of your
66 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
ordinance and rent board regulations at the ready when
you’re planning an eviction in a rent control city.
As with the Summons, the unlawful detainer
Complaint is completed by filling in a standard form,
which is fairly straightforward. But don’t let this lull
you into a false sense of security. If you make even
a seemingly minor mistake, such as forgetting to
check a box, checking one you shouldn’t, or filling
in wrong or contradictory information, it will increase
the chances that your tenant can and will successfully
contest the action, costing you time and money. Pay
very close attention to the following instructions. This
chapter includes directions on filling in each item of the
Complaint plus a completed sample form.
A blank, tear-out version of the Complaint is in
Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also includes this form.
Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
If you make a double-sided photocopy of the tear-
out Complaint, or make a double-sided print using
the CD-ROM, be sure that the copies you make have
the front and back in the same seeming upside-down
relation to one another as the forms in the back of this
book, or a fussy court clerk may refuse to accept your
papers for filing.
At the top of the form, type
your name, address, and
telephone number in the first box that says Attorney or
Party Without Attorney. After the words “Attorney For,”
we have preprinted the form to say “Plaintiff in Pro
Per,” to indicate that you’re representing yourself. In the
second box, you will need to fill in the county, division,
and court address, the same as you put on the front
of the Summons. In the third box, fill in the plaintiff’s
(your) and defendants’ names in capital letters. As with
the Summons, leave blank the boxes entitled “FOR
COURT USE ONLY” and “CASE NUMBER.”
Put an X in the box next to the space labeled “DOES
1 to ,” and put “5” in the space after that. This
allows you to name five more defendants later, if, for
example, you find out the names of unauthorized
occupants of the premises.
If you want to name more defendants later, you can
amend (change) your Complaint and add the names
of the new defendants in exchange for each of your
fictional “Doe” defendants.
Put an X in the two boxes next to the words “ACTION
IS A LIMITED CIVIL CASE” and the words “does not
exceed $10,000.” Do not check any other boxes in this
area. This tells the clerk to charge you the lower filing
fee (around $140) for a case involving a relatively small
amount of money. (If you don’t check these boxes, or
check the wrong ones, you could be charged up to
$275.)
Item 1: PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT Names
Type your name after the
words “PLAINTIFF (names
each):” and type the defendants’ names after the words
“DEFENDANT (names each):,” using upper case for
the first letter of each name and lower case for the
remainder (Joe Smith).
Item 2: Plaintiff Type
Item 2a: State whether the
plaintiff is an individual, a
public agency, a partnership, or a corporation. If, as in
most cases, the plaintiff is an adult individual—you—
who is an owner of the property, type an X in box (1)
next to the words “an individual over the age of 18
years.”
Do not check the box next to the words “a partner-
ship” unless you listed the partnership as the plaintiff
on the Summons. (See Step 2 in “Preparing the
Summons,” above.)
Do not check the box next to the words “a corpora-
tion.” Corporate landlords must be represented by an
attorney—in which case you should not be doing the
eviction lawsuit yourself. (See above.)
Item 2b: Type an X in
the box if you included
a fictitious business name when you identified the
plaintiff in the Summons (see Step 2 in “Preparing the
Summons,” above). Type the fictitious business name in
the space provided.
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 67
Item 3: Address of Rental Property
List the street address of the
rental property, including
apartment number if applicable, and the city and
county in which it is located.
EXAMPLE: 123 Main Street, Apartment 4, San Jose,
County of Santa Clara.
Item 4: Plaintiff’s Interest
If you are an owner of the
property, type an X in the
box next to the words “as owner.” If you have a lease-
option on the property and rent it to the tenants, check
the “other” box and type in “Lessor.”
Item 5: Unknown Defendants
You don’t need to do any-
thing here. This allegation
applies only if there are unauthorized subtenants or
long-term “guests” in the property, but you don’t know
their names. If you later learn the real name of a “John
Doe,” this allegation makes it easier for you to file
an “amended” Complaint, giving the correct name(s).
Filing an amended Complaint gets a bit tricky. If you
need help, contact a lawyer to help you.
Item 6: Landlord and Tenant’s Agreement
Item 6a: This item calls for
basic information about the
terms of the tenancy.
On the first line (beginning with “On or about”), fill
in the date on which you agreed to rent the property to
your tenant. This is the date the agreement was made, not
the date the tenant moved in. If a written lease or rental
agreement is involved, the date should be somewhere
on it. If it’s an oral agreement and you can’t remember
the exact date, don’t worry. The approximate date is
okay.
It’s very common for tenants with leases to stay
beyond the lease expiration date, with the full know-
ledge and blessing of the landlord. When the landlord
continues to accept rent, these tenants become month-
to-month tenants, subject to the same terms and
conditions of the original lease. If the tenant you’re
evicting stayed on in this way, use the date that the
original lease was signed. If you asked this tenant to
sign a new lease when the old one expired (this is the
better practice), use the date that the latest lease was
signed, and refer to this lease for all other information
that’s called for in the Complaint.
Then, on the same line, fill in the names of the
persons with whom you made the oral agreement or
who signed a written agreement or lease. In the case
of an oral agreement, list the name(s) of the person(s)
with whom you or a manager or other agent originally
dealt in renting the property. Don’t worry if the list of
people with whom the oral or written agreement was
made does not include all the current adult occupants.
Occupants who didn’t make the original agreement are
subtenants or assignees (see The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 10) and are
accounted for in Item 6c (below).
If some of the original tenants have moved out,
they should not be listed in Item 6a, since you are
not permitted to name them as defendants. You list
here only those person(s) who entered into the rental
agreement and still live in the property.
The boxes after line “(1)” of Item 6a (beginning with
the words “agreed to rent the premises as a”) indicate
the type of tenancy you and your tenant(s) originally
entered into.
• If the tenancy was from month to month (see
Chapter 3) check that box.
• If the tenancy was not originally month to month,
type an X in the “other tenancy” box.
• For a fixed-term tenancy, type “fixed-term tenancy
for months,” indicating the number of
months the lease was to last.
• The “other tenancy” box can also be used to
indicate periodic tenancies other than from month
to month such as week-to-week tenancies.
• If the tenancy began for a fixed period (one year
is common), but the term has expired and the
tenancy is now month to month, indicate it as it
originally was (fixed-term). You can note in Item
6d (see below) that the tenancy subsequently
changed to month to month.
The boxes after line “(2)” in Item 6a (beginning
with the words “agreed to pay rent of”) has a space for
68 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
5
X
X
X
Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
6789 Angel Blvd. Apt. 10, Los Angeles, 90010, Los Angeles County
X
Jan. 1, 2002 Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
850.00
X
X
X
X
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 69
you to fill in the amount of the rent when the tenant
originally rented the premises. If the rent has increased
since then, say so in Item 6d (see below). Next indicate
how often the rent was payable (again, when the
tenancy began; changes since then should be indicated
in Item 6d). In the rare cases where the rent was not
payable monthly, put an X in the “other” box and
type in the appropriate period (for example, weekly or
bimonthly).
At line “(3)” of Item 6a, check “first of the month”
if the rent was payable then. If it was payable on any
other day (for example, on the 15th of each month, or
every Monday), instead check the box next to “other
day (specify):” and type in when the rent did come
due.
Item 6b: This item tells
whether the rental agreement
or lease was oral or written and whether you, an agent,
or a previous owner entered into it with the tenant.
Check either the “written” box or the “oral” box on the
first line. If there was a written agreement with the first
tenants, but only an oral agreement with subsequent
occupants, the latter are most likely subtenants under
the written agreement. So you need only check the
“written” box.
Also put an X in one of the four boxes below it.
Check the box labeled “plaintiff” if you—the plaintiff—
signed the written rental agreement or lease or made
the oral agreement with the tenant. If a manager,
agent, or other person did this, check the box labeled
“plaintiff’s agent” instead. If the tenant was renting the
property before you owned it, and you didn’t have
her sign a new rental agreement or lease, she is there
because of some sort of agreement with the previous
owner—in legalese, your “predecessor in interest”—and
you should check that box.
PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT.
At the top of the reverse side
of the Complaint is a large box labeled “PLAINTIFF
(Name):” and “DEFENDANT (Name):.” Here, type in
capital letters the names of the first-listed plaintiff and
defendant the same way their names are listed on the
front Caption under “PLAINTIFF” and “DEFENDANT.”
Where there are multiple plaintiffs or defendants, you
list only the first one here, followed by “ET AL.”
Item 6c: If the occupants
you’re trying to evict are all
named in Item 6a (because you entered into a written
or oral rental agreement or lease with them), leave box c
blank and go on to Item 6d.
If, however, some of the persons you named as
defendants were not named in Item 6a (for example,
adults who later moved in without your permission),
check box c and one of the three boxes below it to
indicate whether these defendants are “subtenants”
(usually) or “assignees” (rarely). (See The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter
10, for a discussion of these terms.)
Here’s a brief explanation.
Subtenants. If any of the original tenants listed in
Item 6a still live in the premises with these defendants,
check the “subtenants” box, because these people are
essentially renting from the original tenants, not from you.
EXAMPLE: Larry rented to Tim and Twyla ten years
ago. Tim and Twyla signed a month-to-month
rental agreement that is still in effect (though Larry
has increased the rent since then). Last year, Twyla
moved out and Twinka moved in with Tim. Larry
never had Twinka sign a new rental agreement.
What is the current status of Tim and Twinka? Tim is
still renting from Larry under the old rental agreement,
but Twinka is actually renting from Tim—even if she
pays the rent to Larry herself. Twinka is a subtenant
and should be listed under Item 6c. Tim and Twyla, the
original tenants, are listed in Item 6a.
Assignees. On the other hand, if none of the original
tenants lives on the premises and you don’t expect any
of them to return, chances are that the current occupants
are “assignees”—unless you had them sign or enter into
a new rental agreement. An assignee is someone to
whom the former tenants have, in effect, turned over
all of their legal rights under the lease.
EXAMPLE: Lana rented one of her apartments to
Toby and Toni five years ago. Three years ago,
Toby and Toni left and, without telling Lana, had
Toby’s cousin Todd move in. Although Lana could
have objected under the rental agreement clause
prohibiting subletting and assignment, she didn’t.
70 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
She accepted rent from Todd, but never had Todd
sign a new rental agreement, so he’s an “assignee”
of Toby’s and Toni’s. In this situation, Lana would
name only Todd as defendant, but list Toby and
Toni as the persons in Item 6a to whom she
originally rented. (This is true even though Item
6a asks you to list “defendants.” Toby and Toni
aren’t actually defendants, because they no longer
live there; the form isn’t perfectly designed for
every situation.) In Item 6c, you should check the
“assignees” box to indicate that Todd, not named in
6a, is an assignee of the persons who are named.
Item 6d: Box d should
be checked if there was a
change in any of information provided in Item 6a since
the original tenancy began. For instance, if the rent is
higher now than it was at first, this is the place for you
to say so, especially if your eviction is for nonpayment
of rent and you are seeking unpaid rent. If there have
been several rent increases, list them all, in chrono-
logical order.
EXAMPLE: Leon rented his property on a month-
to-month basis to Teresa on January 1, 2007, for
$800 per month. (This date and former rent amount
should be listed in Item 6a.) On July 1, 2007, Leon
gave Teresa a 60-day notice (required for rent
increases of more than 10%), that her rent would
be increased from $800 to $900 effective September
1, 2007. Leon should check box d under Item 6 and
after the words “The agreement was later changed
as follows (specify):” type the following:
“On July 1, 2007, Plaintiff notified defendant in writing
that effective September 1, 2007, the rent would be
increased to $900 each month.”
EXAMPLE: Teresa’s neighbor, Juan, moved into
one of Leon’s apartments on January 1, 2007. On
December 1, Leon told Juan his rent would go from
$650 to $700, effective January 1, 2008. However,
Leon forgot to give Juan the required written 30-
day notice. (See The California Landlord’s Law
Book: Rights and Responsibilities, Chapter 14.) Still,
Juan paid the increased rent for several months,
beginning in January 2008. Even though Leon
should have raised the rent with a written notice,
Juan effectively “waived” or gave up his right to
a written notice by paying the increase anyway.
(Note: This may not be true in a rent control city,
especially if the increased rent exceeds the legal
rent for the property.) Now, in June 2008, Juan
won’t pay the rent (or move) and Leon has to sue
him. Check box d under Item 6 and type in the
following:
“On December 1, 2007, plaintiff notified defendant
that effective January 1, 2008, the rent due would be
increased to $700 each month, and defendant agreed
to and did pay the increased rent on its effective
date.”
Another common event that should be recorded
in Item 6d is any change in the type of tenancy (for
example, from a fixed-term lease to a month-to-month
tenancy).
EXAMPLE: On June 1, you rented your property
to Leroy for one year under a written lease. Leroy
didn’t leave on June 1 of the following year and
paid you the usual rent of $900, which you accepted.
Although the original tenancy was one for a fixed
term, as should be indicated in Item 6a, it is now
month to month. (See Chapter 5.) Check box d in
Item 6 and type the following:
“On June 1, 2007, after expiration of the lease term,
defendant remained in possession and paid $900
rent, which plaintiff accepted, so as to continue the
tenancy on a month-to-month basis.”
Item 6d should also be filled out for changes in the
rental period (for example, from bimonthly to monthly)
and changes in the date when the rent was due (for
example, from the 15th of the month to the first).
Simply put, Item 6d is your chance to bring the court
up to date as to your current arrangements with your
tenants.
You may find that there isn’t enough space on the
Complaint form to type in all the required information
for this item. If you can’t fit it in with three typewritten
lines that go right up against each margin, type the
words “see attachment 6d” and add all the necessary
information on a sheet of white typing paper labeled
“Attachment 6d.” This attachment is stapled to the
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 71
Complaint, along with the “Exhibit” copies of the lease/
rental agreement and three-day, 30-day, or 60-day notice
discussed below. (Be sure to add one more page to the
number of pages listed in Item 1 if you do this.)
Item 6e: If the rental
agreement is oral, skip this
box and Item 6f, and go on to Item 7. If the rental
agreement or lease is in writing, put an X in this
box if you have the original or a copy of it. Attach
a photocopy (not a signed duplicate) of the lease or
rental agreement to the Complaint (unless you can’t
find an original or copy). Write “EXHIBIT 1” on the
bottom of the copy. (If you and the tenants signed a
new lease or rental agreement after having signed an
older version, you need only attach a copy of the most
recent lease or rental agreement.) You must include
copies of any written amendments or addenda. Finally,
keep track of the correct number of pages attached
to the Complaint, which you’ll need to list in Item 18
(count two printed sides of one page as two pages).
If you’re seeking to evict because of nonpayment
of rent, you aren’t legally required to attach a
copy, but we think it’s a good practice. If the tenant
contests the lawsuit, the judge who hears the case will be
more favorably impressed with the way you put your case
together if you’ve taken the extra step to attach all relevant
documents.
Item 6f: This question asks
you to explain why, if there
is a written rental agreement or lease, you have not
attached a copy of it to the Complaint. (You’re not
required to do so in rent-nonpayment cases even if
you have a copy, though we suggest that you do if you
have one.) If your rental agreement is oral, skip this
item and go to Item 7. Also skip it if you are attaching a
copy of the rental agreement or lease.
If you haven’t attached a copy of a lease or rental
agreement, put an X in the box next to Item 6f. Also
put an X either in box (1) if you simply don’t have an
original or copy of the lease or rental agreement, or
in box (2) if your lawsuit is based on nonpayment of
rent, and (against our advice) you decide not to attach
a copy.
PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT.
At the top of the reverse side
of the Complaint is a large box labeled “PLAINTIFF
(Name):” and “DEFENDANT (Name):” Here, type in
capital letters the names of the first-listed plaintiff and
defendant the same way their names are listed on the
front Caption under “PLAINTIFF” and “DEFENDANT.”
Where there are multiple plaintiffs or defendants, you
list only the first one here, followed by “ET AL.”
Item 7: Notice
Check the box immediately follow-
ing the number 7 to indicate that
a notice to quit was served on at least one of the
tenants, and fill in the name of the defendant to whom
the notice was given. If you served more than one
defendant, list all of their names. You will also list the
other names and method of service in Items 7b and 7c,
below.
Leave Items 7 and 7a through 7f blank if your
eviction is being brought under Chapter 5 of this
book (that is, if no notice was given the tenant).
Item 7a: Check box “(1),” labeled “3-day notice
to pay rent or quit.”
Item 7a: Check box “(2)” labeled “30-day notice
to quit” if that is what you used because the
tenancy was for less than a year. (See Chapter 3.) If
you had to give a 60-day notice because your tenant
occupied the premises for a year or more, check box
“(3)” next to the words “other (specify):” and type the
words “60-day notice to quit.”
If you used a 90-day notice of termination of tenancy
because the tenancy was government-subsidized, check
box “(6)” next to the words “Other (specify):” and type
the words “90-day notice to quit.”
Item 7a: Check either the box labeled “3-day
notice to perform covenants or quit” “(4)” (the
conditional notice), or “3-day notice to quit” “(5)” (the
unconditional notice), depending on which type of
notice you served.
72 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Item 7b: List the date the period provided
in your three-day notice expired. This
is the third day, not counting the day the notice was
served, after the three-day notice was personally served
(eighth day for substituted service), except that when
the third (or eighth) day falls on a weekend or legal
holiday, the last day is the next business day. (See
Chapters 2 and 4 for several detailed examples.) If you
used substituted service for your notice or are unsure
of your notice’s expiration date, return to your “home”
chapter (Chapter 2 or 4) and compute the correct
expiration date in accordance with our instructions.
Item 7b: List the date the period provided in
your 30-day or 60-day notice expired. This is
the 30th day (or the 60th day) after the notice was
personally served (don’t count the day the notice was
served), except that when the 30th or 60th day falls
on a weekend or legal holiday, the last day is the next
business day. (See the detailed examples in Chapter 3
to get a better handle on this.) If you used substituted
service or are unsure of the proper expiration date,
return to Chapter 3 and compute the proper expiration
date in accordance with our instructions.
Don’t file until the three, 30, or 60 days have
expired.
Be sure you do not file your papers
with the court (see below) until
after the date you indicate in Item 7b. Otherwise, the
Complaint will be premature, and you may lose the
case and have to pay the tenant’s court costs.
Item 7c: You don’t need to fill in a
box or add information on this one,
which just says that everything in the notice you served
(a copy of which you will attach to the Complaint) is
true.
Item 7d: Put an X in this box. This
indicates that your three-day notice
contained an “election of forfeiture”—legalese for a
statement in the notice that the tenancy is ended if the
notice is not obeyed. The form notices in this book
include a forfeiture statement.
Item 7d: Leave this item blank, since 30-day
and 60-day notices do not require a notice of
forfeiture.
Item 7e: Check this box. Label
the bottom of your copy of the
three- or 30-day notice “EXHIBIT 2” (even if you don’t
have an Exhibit 1), and remember to staple it to your
Complaint. This is essential.
Item 7f: Put an X in box 7f only
if (1) there are two or more
defendants, and (2) you served two or more of them
with the notice on a different date or in a different
manner. (Although the form contemplates checking
this box also if two or more defendants were served
with different notices, we do not recommend such
a procedure.) For example, if Tillie Tenant and Sam
Subtenant were each served with a three-day notice
on a different day, or if one was served personally and
the other served by substituted service and mailing
(see Chapter 2), then Lenny Landlord would check this
box. However, do not check the box if the two or more
defendants are all cotenants on a written lease or rental
agreement and you served just one of them on behalf
of all tenants.
If you check Item 7f, you should also put an X in
Item 8c on the reverse side of the Complaint form. At
this point, the information in Items 8a through 8e on
content and service of the notice will apply only to the
person(s) whose name(s) is listed in Item 7a. You will
have to state on a separate page labeled “Attachment
7f/8c,” how any other persons were served in a
different manner or on a different date. Before doing
that, however, you should turn the Complaint form
over and complete Items 8a and 8b.
Item 7f: Leave Item 7f blank if your eviction is
being brought under Chapter 5 of this book—
that is, if no notice was served on any tenant.
Item 8: Service of Notice
This part of the eviction form
asks for the details on how you
performed service of process. You have a choice: You
can complete Items 8a through 8c as explained below,
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 73
or you can demonstrate your service compliance by
checking Item 8d and supplying as Exhibit 3 a written,
signed proof of service indicating when and how the
notice was served. Which method is preferable? We
suggest using Items 8a through 8c, because these
questions prompt you to give the detailed information
(especially important in cases of substituted service or
service by posting and mailing) that a judge needs to
determine whether service was proper. Remember, if
you have multiple defendants served different ways,
you’ll need to add separate attachment pages for each.
On the other hand, you may find it easier to simply
check Item 8d and attach multiple proofs of service for
multiple defendants who were served in different ways
or on different dates, instead of filling out Items 8a–8c
and adding separate attachments. Put an X in the box
after 8a to indicate that a notice was served on your
tenant.
Leave Items 8, 8a and 8b and 8c blank, since no
notice was served on your tenant.
Item 8a: If the defendant listed in
Item 7a was personally served with
the notice, check the first box (next to the words “by
personally handing a copy to defendant on (date):”)
“(1),” and type the date she was handed the notice.
Then go on to Item 8b.
The second box in Item 8a, next to “by leaving a
copy with ...” “(2),” should be checked instead only
if you used “substituted service,” that is, you gave the
notice to someone at the tenant’s home or workplace
and mailed a second copy. On the same line, list the
name (or physical description if name is unknown)
of the person to whom the notice was given. On the
next two lines, fill in the date you delivered the notice,
check a box to indicate whether the notice was served
at the residence or business address, and list the date
the second copy was mailed to the residence address.
Then go on to Item 8b.
If you had to resort to “posting and mailing” service
because you couldn’t find anyone at the defendant’s
home or place of employment, check the third box
next to the words “by posting a copy on the premises
on (date):” “(3)” and insert the date the notice was
posted. Ignore the box by the words “and giving a copy
to a person found residing at the premises.” Below that,
list the date the copy of the notice was mailed to the
residence address. Next, check one of the two boxes
(in front of phrases beginning with “because”) to indicate
why you used posting-and-mailing service. In almost
all residential cases you should check the second box,
next to the phrase “because no person of suitable age
or discretion can be found there.” Leave blank the box
next to the phrase “because defendant’s residence and
usual place of business cannot be ascertained”—after
all, you always know the defendant’s residence address
in a residential eviction.
The fourth box in Item 8a, followed by the words
“not for 3-day notice” in parentheses, obviously
should be used only if your eviction was preceded by
a 30-day or 60-day notice (see Chapter 3) which you
served by certified or registered mail.
Item 8a: The last (fifth) box in
Item 8a should not be checked. It
applies only to some commercial tenancies—a subject
beyond the scope of this book.
Item 8b: Put an X in this box
and again list the name(s) of any
defendant you served with a termination notice (as you
did in Item 7a), only if all of the following are true:
(1) there are two or more defendants, (2) two or more
of the defendants both signed the written lease or
rental agreement, and (3) you did not serve all of the
signers of the lease or rental agreement with a notice.
For example, Tillie Tenant and Terrence Tenant both
signed the rental agreement, and although your Three-
Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit mentioned them both,
you only served Terrence. (This is permitted under the
case of University of Southern California v. Weiss (1962)
208 Cal. App. 2d 759, 769; 25 Cal. Rptr. 475.) In that
case, Item 7a on the front should list “Terrence Tenant”
as the one served with a notice, Item 6f should not be
checked and Item 8b should be checked. At Item 8b,
“Terrence Tenant” should again be listed as the person
who was served on behalf of the other tenant(s) on the
lease or rental agreement.
Item 8c: If you put an X in box 7f,
you did so because (1) there are
two or more defendants, and (2) you served two or
74 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
X T
errence Tenant
X
X On Jan. 1, 20xx, plaintiff notified defendants
in writing that effective Feb. 1, 20xx, the rent would be $900.00
X
X
TERRANCE D. TENANT
X
X
X August 5, 20xx
X TERRANCE D. TENNANT
August 8, 20xx
X
X
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 75
more defendants with the same notice on a different
date or in a different manner. (You generally will not
check box 7f or 8c if you checked box 8b to indicate
you served one cotenant, but not other written-lease
cotenants.) If you did put an X in box 7f, do so in box
8c also. You will then also need to add an extra piece
of typing paper titled “Attachment 7f/8c to Complaint—
Unlawful Detainer.” On that attachment, you need to
explain how the defendant(s) other than the one whose
name is mentioned in Item 7a was served in a different
manner or on a different date. Use the format of the
wording in Item 8a(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) [certified mail
service of 30-day or 60-day notice only]. For example,
where Items 7 and 8 show you served Tara Tenant
personally with a three-day notice to pay rent or quit
on September 4, and you served Sam Subtenant on
September 6 by substituted service, boxes 7f and 8c
should be checked, and Attachment 8c would state,
“Defendant Sam Subtenant was served the three-day
notice to pay rent or quit, alleged in Item 7, by leaving
a copy with Tara Tenant, a person of suitable age and
discretion, on September 6, 20xx, at his residence,
and by mailing a copy to him on September 7, 20xx,
because he could not be found at his residence or
place of business.”
Item 8d: If you wish, you may
check this box to indicate that
instead of using Items 8a through 8c above to describe
how the notice was served, you’re attaching as Exhibit
3 a written, signed proof of service indicating when and
how the notice was served. See the discussion at the
beginning of Item 8 for the pros and cons of using Item
8d.
PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT
At the top of the third page
of the complaint (new second sheet) is another large
box just like the one at the top of the second page
(reverse side of first sheet) of the complaint, labeled
“PLAINTIFF (name):” and “DEFENDANT (name):” As
before, type the names of the first-listed plaintiff, and
first-listed defendant, followed by “et al” if there’s more
than one.
Item 9: Expiration of Lease
Do not use this box. It does not
apply in evictions based on three-
day, 30-day, or 60-day notices.
Check this box if you are proceeding under
Chapter 5 on the grounds that your fixed-term
lease expired. Do not check it if the reason for the
eviction is that the tenant failed to vacate on time after
serving you with a 30-day notice.
Item 10: Rent Due
Put an X in box 10. At the end of the sentence
following the box, put the amount of rent you
demanded in the three-day notice.
Your Complaint will be susceptible to a delaying
motion if it ambiguously states that the rent due was
something other than that stated on the attached three-
day notice, so do not under any circumstances list a
different amount.
Leave this box blank. It is solely
for evictions based on a Three-Day
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. (See Chapter 2).
Item 11: Daily Rental Value
Check box 11 and list the
daily prorated rent. This is
the monthly rent divided by 30 or, if the rent is paid
weekly, the weekly rent divided by seven. For example,
if the rent is $450 per month, the daily rental value is
$450/30, or $15. Round the answer off to the nearest
penny if it doesn’t come out even. This figure is the
measure of the “damages” you suffer each day the
tenant stays after the end of the rental period.
PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT
At the top of the third page
of the complaint (new second sheet) is another large
box just like the one at the top of the second page
(reverse side of first sheet) of the complaint, labeled
“PLAINTIFF (name):” and “DEFENDANT (name):” As
before, type the names of the first-listed plaintiff, and
first-listed defendant, followed by “et al” if there’s more
than one.
76 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Rent vs. Damages
The difference between “rent” and “damages” is
illustrated as follows: On February 1, Tim doesn’t
pay his landlord Lenny the monthly $900 rent. On
February 6, Lenny serves Tim a three-day notice.
After the three days have elapsed, and Tim still
hasn’t paid the rent, the tenancy is terminated.
Lenny brings an unlawful detainer action to enforce
that termination, and gets a judgment against Tim
on March 10. Lenny is still entitled to the $900 rent
for February, since it was all due as rent before the
tenancy was terminated.
Since the termination of the tenancy was
effective in February, Tim owes no “rent” as such for
his stay during March. What Tim does owe Lenny
for those ten days is money to compensate Lenny
for being unable to rerent the property during that
time. Assuming that Lenny could have gotten the
same rent from a new tenant, namely $900 per
month or $30 per day, the “damages” for those ten
days would be $300 in addition to the $900 rent,
for total rent and damages of $1,200.
Item 12: Landlord’s Right to Statutory Damages
We normally recommend
this box be left blank. By
checking it, you allege in the Complaint that the tenant
is being “malicious” in staying when he or she should
leave, and you are asking for up to $600 in punitive
damages in addition to the rent. (The law does not
allow you to ask for more. Before 1994, a landlord
could recover “treble damages,” or three times the
rent the tenant owed, but now you can recover only
$600 if you can convince a judge the tenant acted
maliciously.) If you do check this box, you must then
add an Attachment 11 in which you state—in very
specific detail—the acts of the tenant which you think
show a malicious intent. Because only $600 of a
probably uncollectible judgment is at stake, because the
requirements for alleging and proving malicious intent
are very technical, and because judges seldom award
these types of extra damages, we do not recommend
seeking this sum. Also, demanding extra money based
on the tenant’s maliciousness may provoke a delaying
response on the part of the tenant. You’re probably
better off leaving item 12 blank.
Item 13: Attorney Fees
Put an X in this box only if
you have a written rental
agreement or lease (a copy of which should be attached
to the Complaint—see Item 6e)—and it has a clause
specifically providing that you (or the prevailing party
in a lawsuit) are entitled to attorney’s fees. A clause
referring only to “costs” or “court costs” isn’t enough.
To be entitled to a court judgment for attorney’s fees,
you must also be represented by an attorney. Since
you’re representing yourself, you won’t be entitled to
attorney’s fees even if you win. Still, you should fill in
this part just in case your tenant contests the lawsuit
and you later hire a lawyer.
Item 14: Rent/Eviction Control Ordinance
This box should be checked
only if your property is
subject to a local rent control law or just cause eviction
ordinance. (See “Rent Control and Just Cause Evictions”
in Chapter 3 for a list.) When you put an X in this box,
you declare under penalty of perjury that you have
complied with all rent ceiling, registration, and other
applicable requirements under the ordinance. Be sure
you have. If you haven’t, or if you’re not sure, do some
research. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 4.)
Once you’re sure you are in compliance, type in the
name of the city or county, the title of the ordinance,
and the date it went into effect. Much of this information
is listed in the Rent Control Chart in Appendix 1 of this
volume (as well as The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 4), but because rent
control ordinances are constantly changing, you should
also call the local rent control board for the latest
information.
Item 15: Other Allegations
This box does not have to be
checked in cases based on three-
day, 30-day, or 60-day notices.
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 77
Check this box if you’re suing a tenant who won’t
leave after having terminated a month-to-month
tenancy by giving you at least 30 days’ written notice.
You’ll have to add an extra paper titled “Attachment 15”
to the Complaint. Using a blank sheet of typing paper,
type a statement based on this model:
Attachment 15
On (date) , 20 , defendants served
plaintiff a written notice terminating their month-
to-month tenancy no sooner than 30 days from the
date of service of the notice, for the termination to be
effective on
(date) , 20 . That period has
elapsed, and defendants have failed and refused to
vacate the premises.
Extra Required Allegations. Some rent control cities
require landlords to make additional allegations.
For example, Berkeley requires landlords to allege that they
are in compliance with the “implied warranty of habitability.”
Attachment 15 can also be used for this sort of required
allegation. The landlord might allege, “Plaintiff is in full
compliance with the implied warranty to provide habitable
premises with respect to the subject property.”
Item 16: Jurisdictional Limit of the Court
This statement just means
you are not asking for more
money than the court has the power to give.
Item 17: Landlord’s Requests
Here you list what you want the court to grant.
Since you want “possession of the premises” and
court costs such as court filing fees, in any unlawful
detainer action, there is no box to check for “a” or “b.”
Put Xs in boxes c, e, and f. Also, put an X in box d if
your lease or rental agreement has an attorney fees
clause. (See Item 13.)
Fill in the amount of past due rent in the space
provided following box c, again making sure this is
the same amount stated in Item 10 and in the three-
day notice. In the space after the word “(date)”: to
the lower right of box f, list the date for the next day
following the rental period for which the rent is due.
EXAMPLE: Larry Landlord served Tanya Tenant with
a three-day notice, demanding $900 rent for the
month of September, or September 1 through 30.
The first day after that rental period is October 1,
20xx. Larry should put that date after “(date:)” in
box f, to ask the court to award him 1/30th of the
monthly rent ($30) for each day after October 1st
that Tanya stays.
EXAMPLE: Louise Landowner served Tom Tenant
with a three-day notice, demanding $1,000 monthly
rent that was due on July 15. Since this rent is due
in advance, it covers July 15th through August 14.
Louise should put the next day after that, August
15, 20xx, after “(date):” in box f.
Put X’s in boxes e and f for evictions based on
both conditional three-day notices to perform
covenant or quit and unconditional three day notices. In
the space after the word “(date):” below box f, list the
day after the three-day notice expiration date you listed
in Item 7b(1). Don’t check box c, since you can only
collect back rent in evictions for nonpayment of rent.
You may, however, put an X in box d if your lease or
rental agreement has an attorney fees clause. (See Item
13.)
Put an X in box f only. In the space after
the word “(date):” below box f, list the
day after the 30-day notice expiration date, or the day
after the fixed-term lease expired. For example, if
you or the tenant gave a 30-day notice on July 1, the
last day the tenant could legally stay was July 31, and
you list August 1, 2007, here. Or, if the tenant’s lease
expired on December 31, 2007 (and you didn’t accept
rent after that), list the next day, January 1, 2007.
Don’t check box c, since it only applies in evictions
for nonpayment of rent. Don’t check box e, which
only applies in evictions based on three-day notices to
quit. (See Chapters 2 and 4.) You may, however, put
an X in box d if your lease or rental agreement has an
attorney’s fees clause. (See item 13.)
Do not check box g unless
you insist on asking for
extra “statutory damages” of up to $600 on account of
the tenant’s malicious conduct, in which case you will
78 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
have also checked Item 12. (Once again, we do not
recommend doing this.)
Do not check box h.
Item 18: Number of Pages Attached
List the number of pages to
be attached to the Complaint,
counting each page of every copy of a rental agreement
or lease (Exhibit 1) and three-day, 30-day, or 60-day
notice (Exhibit 2), as well as any attachments. (Count
each printed side of a piece of paper as a page.) Do
not count the pages of the Complaint. Thus, for a
Complaint that attached a one-page lease and a one-
page three-day, 30-day, or 60-day notice, the number of
added pages should be “2.”
Item 19: Unlawful Detainer Assistant
The law requires that a non-
attorney who is paid to fill
out unlawful detainer paperwork must be registered
and bonded. This law does not apply, however, to
property owners or to managers who prepare such
forms for their employer in the ordinary course of their
duties (neither does it apply to attorneys). If you are
such a property manager or owner, put an X next to
the words “did not” in Item 18, and leave the rest of
the item blank. If you are paying a paralegal or other
person to fill out or otherwise process your papers
(other than just having a process server serve them), or
to advise you on filling out the forms, he or she must be
registered with the county and bonded, and the “did”
box must be checked on Item 18. That person’s name,
address, phone number, and registration information
must then be listed on Item 19 of the Complaint form.
(If you let an unregistered person prepare your forms
for a fee and he or she filled out the “did not” box,
remember, you’re the one declaring, under penalty of
perjury, to the truth of the form when you sign it!)
Verification and Plaintiffs’ Names,
Dates, and Signatures
Type your name in the spaces indicated below Item 19
and, under the heading “VERIFICATION,” type in the
date and sign the Complaint in both places.
The two lines side by side
above the word “Verification”
are the first of two places to sign and type the name(s)
of the plaintiff(s). The name of each person who is
listed on the Complaint (and Summons) as a plaintiff
should be typed in the space to the left. Their signatures
go on the space to the right. For more than one plaintiff,
it’s okay to either separate the names and signatures
by commas, with all names on one line, or to list one
above the other.
Under the “Verification” heading you state under
penalty of perjury that all the allegations in the Com-
plaint are true. A name and signature—but only of one
plaintiff even if there are several—is required here, too.
The plaintiff with the most knowledge about the matter
should type her name and the date in the space to the
left and sign in the space at the right.
Be sure the date you sign is at least
one day after the date in Item 7b
of the Complaint—the date the notice period legally
expired.
If a partnership is named as plaintiff, the verification
printed on the form must be modified. You can do
this by using correction fluid to “white out” the line
of instructions in parentheses just below the word
“Verification,” and typing over it “I am a partner of the
partnership which is.” Then, on the next line, white out
the words “I am.” The verification should then begin “I
am a partner of the partnership which is the plaintiff in
this proceeding ....”
Preparing the Civil Case Cover Sheet
This form must be filed with the court at the same time
as your Complaint. Its purpose is to tell the court what
kind of a civil case you’re filing, and it’s used when
filing any type of civil case. (The second page is full of
information and instructions that are either irrelevant
to your case or unnecessary in light of the information
you’re getting from this book.) We’ve preprinted this
form with all the information needed to tell the court
clerk you’re filing an unlawful detainer action to evict
the tenant from a residence (as opposed to a commercial
building). You need only type in the following
information:
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 79
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
X
900.00
X 30
X
X
City of Los Angeles, Rent Stabilization Ordinance, enacted April 12, 1979.
X
X 900.00
September 1, 20xx
X
X
X 3
X
August 10, 20xx
LENNY D. LANDLORD Lenny D. Landlord
August 10, 20xx
LENNY D. LANDLORD Lenny D. Landlord
80 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
• Type your name, address, and telephone number
in the box at the left top of the page, and the
court’s name, including division, and address in
the box below that.
• In the third box near the top of the page, entitled
“CASE NAME,” type in capital letters the last name
of the first plaintiff (you) before the “vs.” and the
last name of the first defendant after the “vs.” For
example, if Leslie Smith and Laura Smith-Jones
are suing Don Brown and Debra Miller, the case
name is “SMITH vs. BROWN.”
• Leave the CASE NUMBER box blank. As for Items
1 through 4 on this form, we have filled this
information in for you. (It is always the same for
residential unlawful detainer actions.)
• In Item 5, check “is not” (your eviction case won’t
be a class action lawsuit). Ignore Item 6 (it’s
highly unlikely that you’ll have another, related
case ongoing when you file your eviction lawsuit).
• Put the date and type your name in capital letters,
in the spaces provided (labeled “Date:” and
“(TYPE OR PRINT NAME)”). Then sign the form
at the lower right in the space provided.
• You will need to make only one copy for your
records, which the court clerk will date-stamp
and return to you. You do not need to serve any
copies on the tenant(s) along with copies of the
Summons and Complaint.
A blank, tear-out version of the Civil Case Cover
Sheet is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also includes
this form. Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
In Los Angeles County, you’ll also need to complete
the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement
of Location, which you’ll file with your regular
cover sheet. This form tells the court what kind of
unlawful detainer action you’re commencing (if the
eviction is based on the tenant’s drug use or sales,
your case will proceed quickly), and why you’ve
chosen this courthouse location. Complete the “Short
Title” information at the top of each page by listing
your name and the last name of the first defendant
(for example, Landlord vs. Tenant). On the second
page under column two, check box A6020 (Unlawful
Detainer—Residential) or A6022 (Unlawful Detainer—
Drugs). Under column three, circle reason 6 (the
rental property should be within the area served by the
courthouse you’ve chosen). On page 4, under Item III,
check box 6 and include the rental property’s address.
Use the Internet to identify the correct court branch
in L.A. Go to the L.A. County Superior Court
website (www.lasuperiorcourt.org) and choose “Locations”
under “About The Court.” Then select the “Filing Court
Locator.” After entering the Zip code of the rental property,
you’ll learn the proper courthouse for your case.
Getting the Complaint and Summons
Ready to File
Now that you have filled out the Complaint, go through
the instructions again and double-check each step,
using the sample Complaint form set out on the
preceding few pages as a guide.
Finally, place the pages of the Complaint in the
following order:
1. unlawful detainer Complaint (front facing you, on
top)
2. attachments, in numerical order if there are more
than one
3. Exhibit 1 (copy of written rental agreement) if
applicable
4. Exhibit 2 (copy of three-day, 30-day, or 60-day
notice) if notice was served.
Fasten them with a paper clip for now.
Before you take the Summons, Civil Case Cover
Sheet, and Complaint to court for filing and stamping,
you need to:
• Make one copy of the Complaint (together with
attachments and exhibits) for your records, plus
one copy to be served on each defendant. The
original will be filed with the court. Make sure to
copy both sides of the Complaint, using a two-
sided copying process if possible. Be sure that the
front and back of the Complaint you submit to
the court are in the same upside down relation to
each other as is the form in the back of this book.
• Make two copies of the Summons for each defend-
ant and one for your records. For example, if you
named three defendants in your Complaint, make
seven copies of the Summons.
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 81
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LANDLORD vs. TENANT
X
X
X
X
X
X
August 10, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
82 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
• Make one copy of the Civil Case Cover Sheet for
your records. Since this form is not served on the
defendant, you don’t need to make any more.
Filing Your Complaint and Getting
Summonses Issued
To file your unlawful detainer Complaint, follow these
steps.
Step 1: Take the originals and all the copies of
your papers to the court’s “civil” filing window at
the courthouse and tell the clerk you want to file an
unlawful detainer action.
Step 2: Give the clerk the original Civil Case Cover
Sheet and Complaint to be filed with the court. Ask the
clerk to “file-stamp” each of your copies and give them
back to you. He will rubber-stamp each of the copies
with the date, the word “FILED,” and a case number.
Step 3: Give the clerk one copy of the Summons per
defendant and ask him to “issue” a Summons for each.
The clerk will stamp the court seal on each of these
Summonses and fill in the date of issuance; these are
now original Summonses, and the clerk gives them
back to you.
Step 4: Give the clerk the other copies of the Summons,
telling him they are copies to be “conformed.” He will
stamp them with the date, but not the court seal. Staple
one of these Summons copies to the front of each
Complaint copy. Both are to be served on the defendants
at the same time. (The original Summonses are returned
to the clerk after the copies are served—see below.)
Step 5: Pay the court filing fee of around $140,
though the exact amount varies, depending on the
county.
Serving the Papers on the Defendant
After you’ve filed your unlawful detainer Complaint
and had the Summonses issued, a copy of the Summons
and of the Complaint must be served on each person
you’re suing. This is called “service of process,” and it’s
an essential part of your lawsuit. The reason for this is
simple: A person being sued is constitutionally entitled
to be notified of the nature of the lawsuit against him
and how he may defend himself.
The Summons tells a defendant that he must file a
written response to the allegations in your Complaint
within five days of the date of service or lose by
“default.” Unlike service of notices to quit, where
service on one tenant is often considered service on
others, each person sued must be separately served
with copies of the Summons and Complaint.
If you don’t follow service rules to the letter, you
lose. For example, a “shortcut” service of Summons
and Complaint, where the papers are given to the first
person who answers the door at the property, instead
of being properly handed to the defendant himself, is
not valid. This is true even if the papers nevertheless
are eventually given to the right person. (If the defendant
cannot be found, the strict requirements of “substituted
service”—discussed in “Substituted Service on Another
Person,” below—including repeated attempts to
personally serve, followed by mailing a second copy,
must be followed.)
Who Must Be Served
Each defendant listed in the Summons and Complaint
must be served. It doesn’t matter that the defendants
may live under the same roof or be married. If you
don’t serve a particular defendant, it’s just as if you
never sued her in the first place; the court can’t enter
a judgment against her, and she cannot be evicted
when the sheriff or marshal comes later on. She not
only will be allowed to stay, but may even be free to
invite the evicted codefendants back in as “guests.” (Minor
children are evicted along with their parents, without
the necessity of naming them as defendants and serving
them with Complaints.)
Service on Unknown Occupants (Optional)
If you don’t serve copies of the Summons and Complaint
on everyone residing in the property as of the date you
filed the Complaint, the eviction may be delayed even
after you’ve gotten a judgment and arranged for the
sheriff or marshal to evict. That’s because occupants
who weren’t served with the Summons and Complaint
were never really sued in the first place. After you get
a court order for possession and the sheriff posts the
property with a notice advising the occupants they have
five days to move or be bodily evicted, the unserved
occupants can file a Claim of Right to Possession with
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 83
the sheriff and stop the eviction until you redo your
lawsuit to get a judgment against them. (C.C.P. § 1174.3.)
Coping with this problem is difficult, time-consuming,
and beyond the scope of this book, and a lawyer is
almost a necessity.
How can you avoid this? State law gives you an
option: A sheriff, marshal, or registered process server,
when serving the Summons and Complaint on the
named defendants, can ask whether there are any other
occupants of the property that haven’t been named.
If there are occupants who aren’t named, the sheriff,
marshal, or registered process server can then serve
each of them, too, with a blank Prejudgment Claim
of Right to Possession form and an extra copy of the
Summons and Complaint, and indicate this on the
proof of service. The unnamed occupants have ten
days from the date of service to file any Claim of Right
to Possession; they can’t file it later when the sheriff is
about to evict. If anyone does file a claim, he or she is
automatically added as a defendant. (The court clerk is
supposed to do that and notify you of such by mail.)
The person filing a claim then has five days to respond
to the Summons and Complaint. If they don’t, you can
obtain a default judgment for possession (see Chapter
7) that includes the new claimant as well as the other
named defendants.
With this optional procedure, an unknown occupant
will be less likely to file such a claim, since the threat
of eviction is not as immediate as when the sheriff
offers this opportunity only days before the actual
eviction. (C.C.P. §§ 415.46, 1174.25.) On the other hand,
this optional procedure may not be necessary if you
have no reason to believe there are occupants of the
property whose names you don’t know. Because only a
sheriff, marshal, or private process server can serve the
papers when you follow this procedure, the eviction
may be more costly or proceed more slowly. Also, if
you use this option, you will have to wait ten days from
service, rather than the usual five, to obtain a judgment
that would include unnamed occupants.
A blank, tear-out version of the Prejudgment Claim
to Right of Possession is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM
also includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
If you want to have any unknown occupants served,
you will need to make as many extra copies of the
Summons and Complaint and claim form as you
anticipate need to be served on unknown occupants.
Fill out the caption boxes at the top of the Prejudgment
Claim of Right to Possession form as you have on your
other court forms, and leave the rest of it blank. Your
instructions to the process server, sheriff, or marshal
should include a statement something like this: “Enclosed
are two additional sets of copies of the Summons and
Complaint, together with a blank Prejudgment Claim of
Right to Possession form; please serve the same on any
unnamed occupants of the premises pursuant to C.C.P.
§ 415.46. Please indicate this type of service on your
Proof of Service.”
Who May Serve the Papers
The law forbids you (the plaintiff) from serving a
Summons and Complaint yourself, but any other person
18 or older and not named as a plaintiff or defendant
in the lawsuit can do it. You can have a marshal or
sheriff’s deputy, a professional process server, or just
an acquaintance or employee serve the papers. (If
you have a friend or employee serve the papers, have
him read the part of this chapter on how to serve the
papers and fill out the “Proof of Service” on the original
Summons.) However, if you use the optional procedure
shown in the section above for serving a Claim of Right
to Possession on any unnamed occupants, you must
use a marshal or sheriff’s deputy or registered process
server. An ordinary individual cannot serve the Claim of
Right to Possession.
What about having your spouse serve the papers?
Although no statute or case law specifically disallows
spouses not named in the Complaint from serving papers
for the named spouse, this isn’t a good idea. Since
spouses almost always share an ownership interest in
real estate (even if the property is only in one spouse’s
name), a judge could rule, if the tenant contests service,
that the unnamed spouse is a “party” because he or she
partly owns the property.
Some landlords prefer to have a marshal or deputy
sheriff serve the papers to intimidate the tenant and
give the impression, however false, that the forces of
the law favor the eviction. Not all counties provide
this service, however, and in those that do, sheriff’s
deputies and marshals are occasionally slow and
sometimes don’t try very hard to serve a person who
84 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
is avoiding service by hiding or saying she is someone
other than the defendant. To have a marshal or deputy
serve the Summons and Complaint, go to the marshal’s
office or the civil division of the county sheriff’s office,
pay a $26 fee for each defendant to be served, and fill
out a form giving such information as the best hours to
find the defendant at home or work, general physical
descriptions, and so on.
Professional process serving firms are commonly
faster and are often a lot more resourceful at serving
evasive persons. They are also a little more expensive,
but the money you’ll save in having the papers served
faster (and therefore in being able to evict sooner) may
justify the extra expense. If you have an attorney, ask
her to recommend a good process serving firm, or check
the Yellow Pages for process servers in the area where
the tenant lives or works.
Marshals and Sheriffs
Marshals are the enforcement officers for the
courts. They serve court papers, enforce civil court
judgments, and physically evict tenants who refuse to
leave the property following a judgment of eviction.
Los Angeles County and some others have marshal’s
offices separate from sheriff’s offices, but in many
other counties—especially in Northern California—
the sheriff is designated as the marshal.
How the Summons and Complaint
Copies Are Served
If you use a sheriff, marshal, or professional process
server, you can skip this section.
There are only three ways to serve a defendant legally.
Again, pay close attention to the rules for the method
you use.
Remember that only copies of the Summons, and
not the originals with the court seals, should be served
on the defendant. If you mistakenly serve the original,
you’ll have to prepare a Declaration of Lost Summons.
Personal Service
For personal service, the copy of the Summons and of
the Complaint must be handed to the defendant by the
server. The person serving the papers can’t simply leave
them at the defendant’s workplace or in the mailbox. If
the defendant refuses to take the paper, acts hostile, or
attempts to run away, the process server should simply
put the papers on the ground as close as possible to
the defendant’s feet and leave. The person serving the
papers should never try to force a defendant to take
them—it’s unnecessary and may subject the process
server (or even you) to a lawsuit for battery.
Personal service of the papers is best; if you have
to resort to either of the other two methods, the law
allows the defendant an extra ten days (15 days instead
of five) to file a written response to the Complaint. It
is therefore worthwhile to make several attempts at
personal service at the defendant’s home or workplace.
Before personally serving the papers, the process
server must check boxes 1 and 4 on the bottom front
of the Summons copies to be served and fill in the
date of service in the space following box 4. A sample
is shown below. It’s better for the process server to
fill the information in on the Summons copy in pencil
before service—so it can be changed later if service
isn’t effected that way or on that date. This is also less
awkward than doing it right there just as you’ve located
the angry defendant.
Some individuals have developed avoidance of the
process server into a high (but silly) art. It is permissible,
and may be necessary, for the person serving the papers
to use trickery to get the defendant to open the door or
come out of an office and identify himself. One method
that works well is for the process server to carry a
wrapped (but empty) package and a clipboard, saying
he has a “delivery” for the defendant and requires her
signature on a receipt. The delivery, of course, is of the
Summons and Complaint. If all else fails, your process
server may have to resort to a “stakeout” and wait for
the defendant to appear. It’s obviously not necessary to
serve the defendant inside his home or workplace. The
parking lot is just as good.
When serving more than one defendant, it’s
sometimes difficult to serve the remaining defendant
after having served one. For example, if one adult in
the family customarily answers the door and is served
the papers, it’s unlikely that she will cooperate by
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 85
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRANCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
TERRANCE D. TENANT
6789 Angel Blvd., Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90010
X
September 11, 20xx 2:15 PM
86 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
calling the other defendant to the door so that your
process server can serve that person too. So, when one
person answers the door, the process server should
ask whether the other person is at home. Usually the
defendant who answers the door will stay there until
the other person comes to the door—at which time
your process server can serve them both by handing
the papers to each individual or laying them at their
feet.
Substituted Service on Another Person
If your process server makes three unsuccessful attempts
to serve a defendant at home, at times you would
reasonably expect the defendant to be there, he can
give the papers to another person at the defendant’s
home,
workplace, or usual mailing address (other than
a U.S. Postal Service mailbox) with instructions to that
person to give papers to the defendant.
If the papers are left at the defendant’s home, they
must be given to “a competent member of the house-
hold” who is at least 18 years old. In addition, the
server must mail a second copy of the Summons and
Complaint to the defendant at the place where the
Summons was left. (C.C.P. § 415.20(b).) This is called
“substituted service.”
There are two disadvantages to this method. First,
several unsuccessful attempts to find the defendant have
to be made and must be documented in a separate
form (discussed below). The second disadvantage is
that the law allows the defendant ten extra days (or 15
days) to respond to a Summons and Complaint served
this way. So using this method instead of personal
service means that the eviction will be delayed ten
days.
In most instances, unless your process server can
serve a defendant at home, it’s better to get a profes-
sional process server to make substituted service. If you
send a relative or friend to try to serve a tenant at work,
you could regret it, as service at work is likely to create
a lot of hostility. It may even prompt the tenant to go
out and get herself a lawyer, when she otherwise might
have simply moved out.
Post Office Boxes
A tenant who is never home to be served (and no
one ever answers the door at the tenant’s home)
cannot be served at a “usual mailing address” if that
address happens to be a post office box at a U.S.
Postal Service public post office. However, if the
tenant rents a box at a private post office (such as
Mailboxes, Etc.) and regularly uses that address and
box, he may be served there by substituted service
on the person in charge of the mail drop, followed
by mailing a second copy of the Summons and
Complaint (from a real U.S. Postal Service mailbox).
EXAMPLE: You name Daily and Baily as defendants.
When your process server goes to serve the papers,
only Daily is home. He serves Daily personally.
Baily, however, has to be served before you can
get a judgment against him. Two more attempts to
serve Baily fail, when Daily answers the door and
refuses to say where Baily is. The process server
uses the substituted service technique and gives
Daily another set of papers—for Baily—and mails
still another set addressed to Baily. Service is not
legally effective until the tenth day after giving the
papers to Daily and mailing a second copy of the
papers to Baily. This means that you’ll have to wait
these ten days, plus the five day “response time,”
(see “What Next?” below) for a total of 15 days,
before you can take a default judgment against
Baily.
Before serving the papers by substituted service, the
process server should check box 3 on the bottom front
of the Summons copy and also check the box next to
“CCP 416.90 (individual)” and should write in the name
of the defendant served this way (not the person to
whom the papers are given) after the words “On behalf
of.” Of the boxes below box 3 and indented, check the
box labeled “other” and add “C.C.P. § 415.20” after it
to indicate that substituted service was used. As with
personal service, check box 4 and fill in the date of
delivery of the papers. A sample is shown below.
If the process server plans to serve a Prejudgment
Claim to Right of Possession (see “Service on Unknown
Occupants (Optional),” below), the server should check
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 87
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRANCE D. TENNANT
X
Sam D. Server
1000 A Street, Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-444-7000
50.00
X
X
September 11, 20xx
Sam D. Server Sam D. Server
88 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
DECLARATION RE REASONABLE DILIGENCE FOR
SUBSTITUTED SERVICE OF SUMMONS ON INDIVIDUAL
I, SARAH SERVER, declare:
I am over the age of 18 years and not a party to this action.
On August 13, 20xx, I served the Summons and Complaint on defendant Terrence Tenant by
leaving true copies thereof with Teresa Tenant at defendant’s place of residence and mailing a second
set of copies thereof addressed to defendant at his place of residence.
Prior to using substituted service to serve defendant Terrence Tenant, I attempted on the following
occasions to personally serve him:
1. On August 10, 20xx, at 5:30 P.M., I knocked on the front door of defendant’s residence. A
woman who identified herself as Teresa Tenant answered the door. I asked her whether I could see
either Terrence or Tillie Tenant and she replied, “They’re not at home.”
2. On August 12, 20xx, at 3:00 P.M., I went to defendant Terrence Tenant’s place of employment,
Bob’s Burgers, 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, and was told that defendant Terrence Tenant had recently
been fired.
3. On August 13, 20xx, at 7:00 A.M., I again went to defendant’s home. Again, Teresa Tenant
answered the door and said that Terrence Tenant was not home. I then gave her the papers for Terrence
Tenant.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true
and correct.
DATED:
August 13, 20xx
Sarah Server
SARAH SERVER
Declaration re Reasonable Diligence for Substituted Service of Summons on Individual
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 89
box c next to the words, “as an occupant,” and also
box d, next to “CCP 425.46 (occupant).”
The process server must fill out the Proof of
Service of Summons (see below) and sign and date
a declaration detailing her attempts to locate the
defendant for personal service. This declaration is
attached to the original Summons. A sample is shown
below.
“Posting-and-Mailing” Service
Occasionally, a process server isn’t able to use either
personal or substituted service to serve a defendant with
copies of the Summons and Complaint. For example,
if your tenant lives alone and is deliberately avoiding
service, and you don’t know where he works (he’s
no longer at the job listed on his application several
months ago), the law provides that your process server
can post copies of the Summons and Complaint on his
front door and mail a second set of copies.
As with substituted service, this “posting-and-mailing”
method also gives the defendant an extra ten days to
file a response with the court, and so ten more days
(total of 15 days) must go by before you can get a
default judgment.
Posting and mailing can be more complicated than it
looks, and we strongly recommend that you let a process
server or a lawyer handle it. There are just too many
ways to make a mistake, and, if you do, your whole
lawsuit will fail.
Before you can use posting and mailing, you must
get written permission from a judge. Your process
server must show that he has made at least two, and
preferably three, unsuccessful attempts to serve the
papers at reasonable times. For example, an attempt
to serve an employed defendant at home at noon on a
weekday, when she would most likely be at work, isn’t
reasonable. Attempts to serve at unreasonable hours
may subject you to legal liability for invasion of privacy
or intentional infliction of mental distress—another
good reason to let someone experienced handle it.
However, a sample form (Application and Order to
Serve Summons by Posting for Unlawful Detainer) for
getting permission from a judge for this type of service
is shown below. Keep in mind, though, that this sample
should be adapted to your own situation.
A blank, Application and Order to Serve Summons
by Posting for Unlawful Detainer is in Appendix 3.
The CD-ROM also includes this page. Instructions for using
the CD are in Appendix 2.
Filling Out the Proof of Service of Summons
Form
Once the process server has served the copies of
the Summonses, the server must fill out a “Proof of
Service of Summons” form and staple it to the original
Summons. (Remember, there is one original Summons
for each defendant.) If you use a sheriff, marshal, or
registered process server, that person should do this
for you. So, even where two or more defendants are
served at the same time and place by the same process
server, two separate Proofs of Service—each stapled
to each original Summons—should be filled out.
When this form is filled out and returned to the court
clerk (see Chapter 7), it tells the clerk that the tenant
received notice of the lawsuit, an essential element
of your lawsuit. Here’s how to complete the Proof of
Service of Summons. The process server must fill out a
Proof of Service of Summons for each defendant.
A blank, tear-out version of the Proof of Service
of Summons is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also
includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
In the box at the top of the form,
fill in the plaintiff’s
and defendant’s names, and leave blank the box
entitled “case number.”
Item 2: Check the box next to “Complaint.” If a
sheriff, marshal, or registered process server served a
Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession using the
optional procedure discussed above, that person should
also check the box next to “other (specify documents)”
and add, “Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession.”
Item 3a: Type the name of the defendant for whom
this Summons was issued and on whom the copies
were served.
Item 3b: Leave this box blank (it’s for the unlikely
event that your tenant has a designated agent who will
accept service of process).
90 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: 213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
110 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
A-123456-B
X
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles,
Los Angeles, County, California X
X
8/10/xx 5:30 p.m. Minor daughter answered through door, refused to open and said her parents
were not home.
8/12/xx 3:00 p.m. Defendants not present at place of employment, manager said fired two
weeks earlier.
8/13/xx 7:15 p.m. No one answered the door, though lights on and both defendants’ vehicles in
driveway.
X
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 91
LANDLORD V. TENANT A-123456-B
X
X
Service was attempted 8/12/xx at defendants’ former place of employment, but process
server was advised that defendants were fired two weeks before.
X
X
Aug. 13, 20xx LENNY D. LANDLORD Lenny D. Landlord
92 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
TERRENCE D. TENANT
6789 Angel Blvd., Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90010
X
September 10, 20xx 2:15 PM
CHAPTER 6: FILING AND SERVING YOUR UNLAWFUL DETAINER COMPLAINT 93
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENNANT
X
Sam D. Server
123 Serve Street, Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-1234
30.00
X
X
September 10, 20xx
Sam D. Server Sam D. Server
94 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Item 4: Type the address where the defendant (or
the person given the papers by substituted service) was
served.
Item 5: If the defendant was personally served, check
box a and list the date and time of service on the same
line in subitems (1) and (2).
If the defendant was served by substituted service
on another person, check box b, list the date and
time the papers were given to this other person,
and type the name of that other person in the space
just below the first two lines. If you don’t know the
name of that person, insert the word “co-occupant,”
“coworker,” or whatever other word (such as “spouse
of defendant”) describes the relationship of the person
to the defendant. Check the box in subitem (1) or (2)
to indicate whether the papers were left with this other
person at the defendant’s business or home. Then,
indicate in subitem (4) the date that additional copies
of the Summons and Complaint were mailed to the
defendant (at the home or business address where the
papers were left), and the city (or nearest post office
branch) from which the second set was mailed. Do not
check subitem (3), but do check subitem (5). Be sure to
attach the original Declaration re Reasonable Diligence
signed and dated by the process server, to the Proof of
Service of Summons.
If you used service by posting and mailing, after
getting permission from a judge, check box d on the
reverse side and after the words “by other means
(specify means of service and authorizing code
section)” enter the words “C.C.P. § 415.45 pursuant
to Court’s order, by posting copies of Summons and
Complaint on front door to premises at [list full street
address] on [list date posted], and mailing copies
thereof on [list date of mailing, or words “same date” if
applicable] by certified mail addressed to defendant at
that address.”
Item 6: The alphabetical boxes here (a through d)
are the same as those on Item 4 on the front of the
Summons (however, box d includes more options).
If personal service was used, check box a.
If substituted service was used, check box c, and
also the box next to “CCP 416.90 (authorized person).”
Also type the name of the defendant served by
substituted service (not the one to whom the papers
were given) on line c.
For posting-and-mailing service, check box a.
Items 7–9, Date and Signature: In the blank spaces
below Item 7, list the home or business address and
telephone number of the process server. Next to “The
Fee for Service,” list the amount you paid, if applicable,
to the person who served the Summons. Check box 1
to indicate that this person is not a registered process
server. (If you do use a registered process server, they
will fill out the Proof of Service of Summons for you.)
Do not check box 2 unless the person who served the
papers is an attorney or licensed private investigator, or
an employee of either. Then, check box 8 and have the
person who served the papers date and sign the Proof
of Service of Summons at the bottom. Do not check
box 9.
What Next?
Your tenant has two choices after he is properly served
with your Summons and Complaint: He can do nothing
and lose automatically (in legalese, default), or he can
fight the suit. He must decide what to do within five
days (15 days if he wasn’t personally served with the
Summons and Complaint).
If the tenant doesn’t file some kind of written response
with the court within five days, you can get a default
judgment by filing a few documents with the court. No
court hearing is necessary. Chapter 7 tells you how to
do this. ■
Taking a Default Judgment
When Can You Take a Default? .................................................................................... 96
The Two-Step Default Judgment Process ...................................................................... 97
Getting a Default Judgment for Possession .................................................................. 97
Preparing Your Request for Entry of Default for Possession ...................................... 98
Preparing the Judgment Issued by the Clerk for Possession of the Premises ........... 101
Preparing the Writ of Possession ........................................................................... 104
Filing the Forms and Getting the Writ of Possession Issued ................................... 107
Having the Marshal or Sheriff Evict ........................................................................... 110
Getting a Money Judgment for Rent and Costs .......................................................... 111
Determining Rent, Damages, and Costs ............................................................... 111
Preparing the Request for Entry of Default (Money Judgment) ............................... 114
Preparing a Declaration as to Rent, Damages, and Costs ...................................... 117
Preparing the Proposed Judgment ......................................................................... 125
Submitting Your Papers and/or Going to the Default Hearing ................................ 126
C H A P T E R
7
96 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
I
f your tenant does not contest the unlawful
detainer lawsuit by filing a written response to
your Complaint, you win the lawsuit almost
automatically. The tenant is said to have “defaulted,”
and you are entitled to obtain a “default judgment”
from the court clerk for possession of the property.
Most unlawful detainer actions are uncontested and
wind up as defaults. By submitting more papers and,
where required, appearing before a judge, you can also
obtain a separate default judgment for some or all of
the money the tenant owes you.
You can obtain a default judgment if all of the
following requirements are satisfied:
• The tenancy was properly terminated.
• The Summons and Complaint were properly
served on all the tenants.
• At least five days (counting Saturday and Sunday
but not other court holidays) have elapsed from
the date the tenant was personally served with
the Summons and Complaint (15 days if you used
substituted service).
• The tenants have not filed a written response to
your Complaint by the time you actually seek
your default judgment.
This chapter tells you when and how you can obtain
a default judgment. (Refer to the checklist in your “home”
chapter for a step-by-step outline of the process.)
When Can You Take a Default?
If a defendant was personally served with the Summons
and Complaint, the law gives her at least five days to
respond to your unlawful detainer Complaint. You can’t
take a default judgment until this response period has
passed. You will have to wait at least six days before
you can get a default judgment from the court clerk.
This is because you don’t count the day of service or
court holidays, which include statewide legal holidays.
You do count Saturday or Sunday, however, unless the
fifth day falls on Saturday or Sunday.
A tenant who was served with the Complaint and
Summons by substituted or posting-and-mailing service
has an extra ten days to respond. Thus, you must count
15 days from the date of mailing. If the 15th day falls
on a weekend or legal state holiday, you must wait
until after the next business day to take a default.
Because you don’t want to give the tenant any more
time to file a written response than you have to, you
should be prepared to “take a default” against one or
all of the defendants on the first day you can. If the
defendant beats you to the courthouse and files an
answer, you can’t take a default.
How do you know whether or not the tenant has in
fact defaulted? Although the tenant is supposed to mail
you a copy of any response he files, he may not do so,
or he may wait until the last day to file and mail you a
copy. To find out if he has filed anything, call the court
clerk on the last day of the response period, just before
closing time. Give the clerk the case number stamped
on the Summons and Complaint and ask if a response
has been filed.
Most tenants don’t file a written response. If no
response has been filed, you can visit the courthouse
when it opens the next day to obtain the default
judgment.
If, however, you find to your dismay that the tenant
or his lawyer has filed a response to your lawsuit, it
will probably take you a few more weeks to evict. (See
Chapter 8 on contested eviction lawsuits.)
EXAMPLE: Your process server personally served
Hassan with the Summons and Complaint on
Tuesday, August 2. You can take a default if Hassan
doesn’t file a response within five days, not counting
the day of service. The first day after service is
Wednesday, August 3, and the fifth day is August
7. Because August 7 falls on a Sunday, Hassan has
until the end of Monday to file his response and
prevent a default. If he hasn’t filed by the end of
that business day, you can get a default judgment
against him the next day, Tuesday, August 9.
EXAMPLE: Angela is a codefendant with Hassan,
but neither you nor your process server can locate
her at home or work. She is served by substituted
service on August 7, when the papers are given to
Hassan to give to her, and a second set of papers
is mailed to her. She has 15 days to answer. The 15th
day after the day of service is Monday, August 22.
If she doesn’t file a response by the end of the
business day, you can take a default against her
on August 23. (As a practical matter, you should
probably wait until the 23rd to take Hassan’s
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 97
default too, since you won’t get Angela out and
the property back any sooner by taking Hassan’s
default first—and it’s more paperwork.)
Don’t accept rent now. Do not accept any rent
from your tenant during (or even after) the waiting
period (also called “response time”) unless you want to
allow him to stay. This is true whether you are evicting
for nonpayment of rent, termination by 30-day or 60-day
notice, breach of the lease, or any other reason. If you do
accept rent, you will “waive,” or give up, your right to sue,
and the tenant can assert that as a defense in his answer.
In rent-nonpayment cases, if you care more about getting
your rent than getting the tenant out, you should at least
insist that the tenant pay all the rent plus the costs of your
lawsuit, including any costs to serve papers. Don’t be
foolish enough to accept partial rent payment with a promise
to pay more later. If you do, and it’s not forthcoming, you
will very likely have to start all over again with a new
three-day notice and new lawsuit.
The Two-Step Default
Judgment Process
As part of evicting a tenant, normally you will obtain
two separate default judgments:
1. Default Judgment for Possession of property.
It’s fairly easy to get a Judgment for Possession
of your property on the day after the tenant’s
response time passes by simply filing your
default papers with the court clerk.
2. Default judgment for any money you are entitled
to. Getting a default judgment for back rent,
damages, and court costs you requested in your
Complaint is more time-consuming; you have to
either go before a judge or submit a declaration
setting forth the facts of the case. (See below.)
And because the judge can only award you
damages (prorated rent) covering the period until
the date of judgment, your money judgment won’t
include any days after you get the judgment and
before the tenant is actually evicted. (Cavanaugh
v. High (1960) 182 Cal. App. 2d 714, 723; 6 Cal.
Rptr. 525.) For example, a judgment cannot
say, “$10 per day until defendant is evicted.”
Prorated daily damages end on the day of the
money judgment. The actual eviction won’t occur
for at least a week after the possession default
is entered unless, of course, the tenant leaves
voluntarily before then.
For this reason, it’s best to first get a clerk’s default
Judgment for Possession and then wait until the tenant
leaves before you go back to court to get the money
part of the judgment. If you do get the money part
of the judgment before the tenant is evicted, you are
still entitled to the prorated rent for the time between
money judgment and eviction. You can deduct this
amount from any security deposit the tenant paid you.
This isn’t quite as good as waiting, because it means
less of the security deposit will be available if the place
is damaged or dirty. If you wait to enter the default
as to rent until after the tenant leaves, you can get a
judgment for the entire amount of rent due and still
leave the deposit available to take care of cleaning and
repairs. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights
& Responsibilities, Chapter 20.)
Getting a Default Judgment
for Possession
To obtain a default Judgment for Possession of the
property, you must fill out and file three documents:
• a Request for Entry of Default
• a Clerk’s Judgment for Possession, and
• a Writ of Possession for the property.
Because you want to get your tenant out as fast
as possible, you might as well prepare the default
judgment forms during your five-day (or 15-day) wait.
If the tenant files a response in the meantime, you
won’t be able to obtain a default judgment, and this
work will be wasted. However, the time it takes to
prepare these forms is not great. And because of the
high percentage of cases that end in defaults, it’s a
worthwhile gamble.
If the tenant voluntarily moved out after being served
with the Summons and Complaint, he still is required
to answer the Complaint within five days. Assuming he
does not, you should still go ahead and get a money
judgment for any rent owed, by skipping to “Getting a
Money Judgment for Rent and Costs,” below.
98 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Preparing Your Request for
Entry of Default for Possession
Your request for the clerk to enter a default and a
Judgment for Possession of the premises is made on
a standard form called a Request for Entry of Default.
In it you list the names of the defendants against
whom you’re taking defaults and indicate that you
want a “clerk’s judgment” that says you are entitled to
possession of the property.
If you’re suing more than one occupant of the
property, and they were all served with the Summons
and Complaint on the same day, you can get a default
judgment against them all on the same day, by filing
one set of papers with all their names on each form.
On the other hand, if you’re suing more than one
person and they were served on different days (or by
different methods), each will have a different date by
which he must respond. Your best bet is to prepare one
set of papers with all the defaulting defendants’ names
on them, wait until the response time has passed for all
defendants, and take all the defaults simultaneously.
You can fill out a separate set of papers for each
defendant and take each defendant’s default as soon
as the waiting period for each defendant has passed,
but there’s normally no reason to, unless the tenants
with later response times have already moved out
or there is something special about the tenants with
earlier response times (for example, they have potential
retaliation or discrimination claims) that makes it
advisable to take their default as soon as possible and
get them out of the case. More paperwork is involved,
and a default judgment against one tenant won’t usually
help you get the property back any sooner—you still
have the others to deal with.
A blank, tear-out version of the Request for Entry of
Default is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also includes
this form. Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
You’ll find a sample filled out below.
On the front of the form, fill in the caption boxes
(name, address, phone, name and address of the court,
name of plaintiff and defendants, and case number) just
as they are filled out on the Complaint. Put Xs in the
boxes next to the words “ENTRY OF DEFAULT” and
“CLERK’S JUDGMENT.” Then fill in the following items:
Item 1a: Enter the date you filed the Complaint. This
should be stamped in the upper right corner of your
file-stamped copy of the Complaint.
Item 1b: Type your name, since you’re the plaintiff
who filed the Complaint.
Item 1c: Put an X in the box and type in the names
of all the defendants against whom you are having the
defaults entered.
Item 1d: Leave this box blank.
Item 1e: Put an X in box e. This tells the clerk to
enter Judgment for Possession of the property. If you
used the optional procedure in Chapter 6, “Service on
Unknown Occupants,” by which a sheriff, marshal, or
registered process server served a Prejudgment Claim of
Right to Possession on unnamed occupants, also check
the box (1). Leave boxes (2) and (3) blank.
Items 2a–2f: Because you’re only asking for posses-
sion of the property at this point, don’t fill in any dollar
amounts. Just type “possession only” in the “Amount”
and “Balance” columns.
Item 2g: Type the daily rental value, listed in Item 10
of the Complaint, in the space with the dollar sign in
front of it. Then, enter the date you put in box 17.f of
the Complaint.
EXAMPLE: May Li’s $900 June rent was due on June
1. On June 7, you served her a Three-Day Notice
to Pay Rent or Quit, which demanded the rent for
the entire month. Monthly rent of $900 is equivalent
to $30 per day. List this amount in Item 2g of the
Request for Entry of Default form. Then, since the
last day of the rental period for which you demanded
the $900 rent was June 30, type in the next day,
July 1. That is the date the prorated daily “damages”
begin, at $30 per day, and it should be listed in
Complaint Item 16f and Item 2g of the Request for
Entry of Default form.
EXAMPLE: You terminated Mortimer’s month-to-
month tenancy by serving a 30-day notice on
September 10. The 30th day after this is October 9.
The day after that, October 10, is the day you are
entitled to prorated daily rent. That date should be
listed in Item 2g of the Request for Entry of Default
form and in Complaint Item 16f. Since Mortimer’s
monthly rent was $750, the dollar figure is $750/30,
or $25 per day. That amount should be listed here
(Item 2g) as well as in Complaint Item 10.
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 99
Lenny D. Landlord
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
A-12345-B
August 10, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord
X TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
possession only possession only
30.00 Sept. 1, 20xx
X
August 16, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
check this box only if you had a Prejudgment Claim of Right of Possession served; otherwise, ignore it
100 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENNANT, ET AL A-12345-B
X
X
X
X
X
August 16, 20xx Terrence D. Tenant, 6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90012
August 16, 20xx Tillie D. Tenant, 6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90012
August 16, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
X
August 16, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
X
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 101
Item 3: We have preprinted an “X” in this box to
indicate the case is an unlawful detainer proceeding.
Enter the date you’ll be filing the default papers with
the court and type in your name opposite the place for
signature. Now turn the form over.
CAPTION: Type the names of the plaintiff and
defendant, just as you did on the second page of the
proof of service of summons. (See “Filing Your Com-
plaint and Getting Summonses Issued” in Chapter 6.)
Item 4: As we saw when preparing the Complaint
(“Preparing the Complaint,” Item 18, in Chapter 6),
you must indicate if an “unlawful detainer assistant”
or a “legal document preparer” (a bonded paralegal)
advised or assisted you. Assuming you are using this
book on your own, put an “X” in the “did not” box. Do
not complete the rest of Item 4.
Item 5: Put an X next to Item 5 and check the boxes
next to the words “is not” in Items a, b, and c. (This
is a general-purpose form, and none of these items
applies to unlawful detainer lawsuits. Even so, many
clerks insist that these items be checked, and doing so
is easier than arguing.)
Item 6: Check box 6b. (You don’t check box 6a
because obviously you know the tenant’s most recent
address—at your property.) Then, type the date you’ll
mail the defendants their copies, and their mailing
address, under headings (1) and (2). Below that, again
type in the date you’ll be filing the papers, and your
name opposite the place for signature.
Item 7: Leave this entire item blank. You’ll list your
court costs when you file for your money judgment
after the tenant is evicted.
Item 8: If none of the defendants against whom
you’re taking a default judgment is on active duty
in the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Marines, Air
Force, and Coast Guard), or is a member of the Public
Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, or is in the National Guard and called
to active service for more than a month, put an X in
box b. Then, simply enter the date you’ll file the papers
and type your name opposite the place for you to sign.
If any of the defendants is in the military, no default
can be taken against him until a judge appoints
an attorney for him. That procedure is fairly complicated
and beyond the scope of this chapter. See an attorney if a
person you’re suing is in the military and refuses to leave
after you’ve served him with the Summons and Complaint.
(Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, 50 U.S.C. App.
§ 521 et seq.) Some landlords take the expedient shortcut
of complaining to their military tenant’s commanding
officer about nonpayment of rent or other problems. This
often works a lot faster than the legal process.
Make two copies of the completed (but unsigned)
form. Don’t sign the Request for Entry of Default until
you actually go down to the courthouse to file the
papers and have mailed a copy to the defendant. (See
below.)
Preparing the Judgment Issued by the Clerk
for Possession of the Premises
The judgment form provides the legal basis for issuance
of a Writ of Possession, the document authorizing the
sheriff or marshal to evict the tenant. You will present it
to the clerk with the Request for Entry of Default.
A blank, tear-out version of the Judgment—Unlawful
Detainer is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also
includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
As with the Summons, Complaint, and Request for
Entry of Judgment, there is a statewide form for a
judgment in an unlawful detainer case. This Judgment—
Unlawful Detainer form can be used in various situations.
In the instructions below, we show you how to fill
it out as a default judgment issued by the clerk, for
possession of the property. (As we’ll see below, this
form is filled out in a different way to obtain a default
judgment for monetary sums, after the tenant has
vacated the property. This form can also be used in
contested cases; see “Responding to the Answer” and
“Preparing for Trial” in Chapter 8.)
This form is not difficult to fill out. Enter the names
and addresses of the landlord and tenant, the court
name and address, and the case number as you have
done on previous forms (again, we suggest omitting
your email address). In the box containing the words
“JUDGMENT—UNLAWFUL DETAINER,” put an X in the
boxes next to the words “By Clerk,” “By Default,” and
“Possession Only.”
102 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT, DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X X A-12345-B
X
X
X
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 103
LENNY LANDLORD
A-12345-B
TERRENCE D. TENANT ET AL
X
X Lenny Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90010
check box 5 only if you had a Prejudgment Claim of
Right of Possession served; otherwise, ignore it
104 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Item 1: Put an X in Item 1 next to the words “BY
DEFAULT,” and also in box 1d next to the words
“Clerk’s Judgment.”
Item 2: Leave this part blank and proceed to the
other side (page 2) of the form. At the top of page 2,
fill in the names, in capitals, of the plaintiff (you), the
first-named defendant (followed by “ET AL” if there is
more than one defendant), and the court case number.
After the words “JUDGMENT IS ENTERED AS FOLLOWS
BY:” put an X in the box following the words “THE
CLERK.”
Item 3: Put an X in box 3a and type, in upper and
lower case, the names of the plaintiff(s) and the names
of all defendants against whom you’re obtaining the
clerk’s default judgment for possession. Leave box 3b
blank.
Item 4: Put an X in the box next to the word
“Plaintiff” (leave the box next to “Defendant” blank)
and list the address of the property including street
address, any apartment number, city, and county.
Item 5: If you used the optional procedure in Chapter
6 to have Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession
served on unnamed occupants by a sheriff, marshal, or
registered process server, check this box. Otherwise,
leave it blank.
Items 6–8: Leave all these boxes blank.
After you fill out the form, make one copy for your
records.
Preparing the Writ of Possession
The final form you need to evict is the Writ of Possession.
(The name of the preprinted form you’ll use is a Writ of
Execution. It’s a multipurpose one for use as a writ of
“possession,” ordering the sheriff or marshal to put you
in possession of real property, or as a writ of “execution”
that requests enforcement of a money judgment.) Like
the Summons, the Writ of Possession is “issued” by the
court clerk, but you have to fill it out and give it to the
clerk with the other default forms. (See below.) The
clerk will issue the writ as soon as court files contain the
Judgment for Possession. The original and copies of the
Writ of Possession are given to the sheriff or marshal,
who then “executes” the judgment by evicting the
tenants against whom you obtained the judgment.
A blank, tear-out version of the Writ of Execution
for possession is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also
includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2. A form for use in Los Angeles County is also
included.
The usual information goes in the big boxes at
the top of the writ form—your name, address, and
phone number; the name and address of the court; the
names of plaintiffs and defendants; and the case number.
(There’s also an optional line where you can enter your
email address. We advise that you not do so. The court
will not communicate with you via email, and since this
document is a public record, anyone who looks at it
will have your address.) Also put Xs in the box next to
the words “Judgment Creditor” in the top large box and
in the boxes next to the words “POSSESSION OF” and
“Real Property” as shown. Fill out the rest of the writ
according to these instructions.
Item 1: Type the name of the county in which the
property is located. The sheriff or marshal (or constable
in justice court districts) of that county will perform the
eviction.
Item 2: Nothing need be filled in here.
Item 3: Put an X in the box next to the words
“judgment creditor” and type your name and the names
of any other plaintiffs. You are “judgment creditors”
because you won the judgment.
Item 4: Type in the names of up to two defendants
and list the residence address. If you got a judgment
against more than two persons, check the box next to
the words “additional judgment debtors on reverse.”
List the other names and address in the space provided
in Item 4 on the back of the form.
Item 5: Fill in the date the judgment will be entered.
If nothing goes wrong, this should be the date you take
the papers down to the courthouse.
Item 6: Nothing need be filled in here.
Item 7: Only box a, next to the words “has not been
requested,” should be checked.
Item 8: Leave box 8 blank—it does not apply here.
Item 9: Put an X in box 9. On the back side of the
form, at Item 24, check boxes 24 and 24a and enter
the date the Complaint was filed. Then, if you used the
optional procedure in Chapter 6 (“Service on Unknown
Occupants”), by which a sheriff, marshal, or registered
process server served a Prejudgment Claim of Right to
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 105
LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
X
Los Angeles
X
X
A-12345-B
Los Angeles
Lenny D. Landlord
X
X
Terrence D. Tenant
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tillie D. Tenant
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Aug. 16, 20xx
X
106 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT A-12345-B
X
X August 10, 20xx
X
330.00
September 18, 20xx
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Check with court for dates and any special wording
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 107
Possession on unnamed occupants, put an X in box (1).
Otherwise, put an X in box (2) and list the daily rental
value of the property in Item 24a(2)(a)—the same as in
Item 10 of the Complaint. For Item 24a(2)(b), call the
court clerk for a future date (two to three weeks away),
in case a person not named in the writ filed a post-
judgment Claim of Right to Possession, and list that
date in the space provided. Under e, list the complete
street address, including apartment number if any, city,
and county of the property.
Items 10–20: These items apply only when you get
a money judgment, and should not be filled in on this
writ, which reflects only a Judgment for Possession of
the property. (Later, after you have a default hearing
before a judge and get a money judgment, you will fill
out another writ (of execution) and fill in Items 10–20—
see “Getting a Money Judgment for Rent and Costs,”
below.) Instead, simply type the words “POSSESSION
ONLY” next to Item 11. Type “0.00” (zero) next to
items 18 and 19a. (We have preprinted “0.00” in Item
19b because it always applies, even when collecting
the money part of the judgment, which we discuss in
Chapter 9.)
You should make one copy of the Writ of Possession
for your own records and three copies per defendant to
give to the sheriff or marshal.
Filing the Forms and Getting the
Writ of Possession Issued
On the day after the response period ends, after you
have made sure no answer was filed (see the first
section in this chapter), mail a copy of the Request
for Entry of Default to the tenant(s) at the property’s
street address. Then sign your name on the three places
on the original. (Technically, if you sign this form
before you mail the copy to the tenant(s), you will be
committing perjury, because in one of the places on the
form you state under penalty of perjury that a copy was
mailed—before you signed.)
Then take the following forms to the courthouse:
• the original Summons for each defendant, stapled
to the Proof of Service of Summons completed
and signed by the process server (see Chapter 6)
• the original plus at least two copies of the Request
for Entry of Default
• the original plus at least one copy of the
Judgment for Possession, and
• the original plus three copies per defendant of
the Writ of Possession.
Give the court clerk the originals and copies of all
the forms you’ve prepared. Tell the clerk that you’re
returning completed Summonses in an unlawful detainer
case and that you want him to:
1. enter a default Judgment for Possession of the
premises, and
2. issue a Writ of Possession.
He will file the originals of the Summonses, the
Proofs of Service of the Summons, the Request for
Entry of Default, and the Judgment, but will hand you
back the original writ, stamped. The clerk should also
file-stamp and hand back to you any copies you give
him. You will have to pay a $7.00 fee for issuance of
the writ.
In Los Angeles and Orange Counties, you must fill
out a special “local” form before the clerk will issue you
a Writ of Possession. The Los Angeles form is called an
Application for Writ of Possession for ... Real Property,
and is filled out as shown below; a blank copy is
included in Appendix 3 and on the CD-ROM. The
Orange County form (Application for Writ of Possession
—Unlawful Detainer, number L-1051) is simple and
needs no instructions from us. You can download the
form from the Orange County website at www.occourts.
org/locforms. Other counties may also require you to
use their own, similar forms—be sure to call the clerk
and check it out before heading to the courthouse.
Some readers have told us that in Los Angeles
County, clerks won’t enter default judgments over the
counter. Instead, you must either come back several
days later for your default judgment and writ, or leave a
self-addressed, stamped envelope with your papers and
the $7.00 fee so the clerk can send it to you.
108 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789
In Pro Per
110 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
LENNY LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
A-12345-B
Lenny D. Landlord
judgment creditor
X August 16, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord
1234 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Terrence D. Tenant Tillie D. Tenant
6789 Angel Street 6789 Angel Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Los Angeles, CA 90012
POSSESSION ONLY; RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY
X
30.00
X
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 109
LANDLORD V. TENANT A-12345-B
N/A N/A N/A
Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant and Tillie D. Tenant
Los Angeles
August 16, 20xx
Lenny Landlord
110 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Having the Marshal or Sheriff Evict
Once the court clerk issues the Writ of Possession
and gives you the original (plus stamped copies), you
are responsible for taking it to the sheriff or marshal,
who will carry out the actual eviction. You can get the
marshal’s or sheriff’s location from the court clerk.
Take the original of the Writ of Possession, plus
three copies for each defendant you’re having evicted,
to the office of the marshal or civil division of the
sheriff’s office (whichever your county has). You will
be required to pay a $75 fee, which is recoverable from
the tenant. You must also fill out a set of instructions
telling the sheriff or marshal to evict the defendants.
Usually the sheriff or marshal has a particular form of
instructions, but you can prepare the instructions in the
form of a signed letter. A sample letter is shown below.
Sample Letter of Instructions
for Sheriff or Marshal
August 18, 20xx
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Los Angeles County Marshal
Civil Division
210 W. Temple
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Re: Landlord v. Tenant
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Los Angeles District, Case No. A-12345-B
Please serve the writ of execution for possession
of the premises in the above-referenced action on
Terrence D. Tenant and Tillie D. Tenant and place the
plaintiff in possession of the premises at 6789 Angel
Street, Apartment 10, Los Angeles, California. You
may call me at 213-555-6789 to schedule the final
posting/eviction date.
Sincerely,
Lenny D. Landlord
Lenny D. Landlord
Within a few days (or weeks, in large urban areas)
a deputy sheriff or marshal will go to the property and
serve the occupants (either personally or by posting
and mailing) with a five-day eviction notice that says,
in effect, “If you’re not out in five days, a deputy will
be back to throw you out.” (Many sheriffs and marshals
will specify the next business day if the fifth day falls
on a weekend or holiday.) In most cases, tenants leave
before the deadline. If the property is still occupied
after five days, call the marshal’s or sheriff’s office to
ask that the defendants be physically evicted. Most
sheriff’s or marshal’s offices don’t automatically go back
to perform the eviction, so it’s up to you to call them if
they don’t call you.
You should meet the sheriff or marshal at the property
to change the locks. If you think the ex-tenant will
try to move back into the premises, you may wish to
supervise, to make sure he really moves his things out.
If he tries to stay there against your wishes or to re-
enter the premises, he is a criminal trespasser, and you
should call the police.
If you did not have the Prejudgment Claim of Right
to Possession forms served (as discussed in Chapter
6), the sheriff or marshal will not physically remove a
person who:
• was not named as a defendant in your suit, and
• has filed—before the final eviction date—a written
claim that he was in possession of the premises
when you filed your suit, or had a right to be in
possession before you filed your suit.
For example, if you rented to a husband and wife,
sued and served them both with Summonses and
Complaint, and got judgments against them both, the
sheriff or marshal will refuse to evict the wife’s brother
who files a claim stating that he moved in months ago
at her invitation, even though the rental agreement had
a provision prohibiting this. (The optional procedure
in Chapter 6 is a sort of preventive medicine to make
sure that such unknown occupants can’t wait to do
this until the sheriff comes, and must do it early in the
proceeding.)
If an unknown occupant does file a claim with the
sheriff or marshal before the final eviction date, the
eviction will be delayed until a later hearing where the
person must show why he should not be evicted, too.
This involves procedures that are beyond the scope of
this book. See an attorney if you encounter this problem.
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 111
(We discuss hiring and working with lawyers in The
California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities,
Chapter 8.)
As for the tenant’s belongings, the deputy who
carries out the eviction will not allow the tenants to
spend hours moving their belongings out, nor will
their possessions be placed on the street. Rather, the
tenant will be allowed to carry out one or perhaps a
few armloads of possessions. The remainder will be
locked in the unit. Of course, you should change the
locks or the tenant may just go right back in. This
does not mean you have a right to hold the tenant’s
possessions for ransom until the back rent is paid.
Doing that is illegal and could subject you to a lawsuit.
You only have the right to insist on “reasonable storage
charges” equal to 1/30th of the monthly rent for each
day, starting with the day the deputy sheriff or marshal
performs the eviction, as a condition of releasing the
property.
Don’t be too insistent on this, though. You don’t
want to have to store a bunch of secondhand
possessions on the property and be unable to rent
the premises to a rent-paying tenant, nor do you
particularly want to front moving and storage charges
to have the belongings hauled off to a storage facility.
(See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 21, for a detailed discussion
of what you can legally do with a tenant’s abandoned
property.) Given this reality, it’s amazing how
many landlords and tenants who’ve been at each
other’s throats can suddenly be very reasonable and
accommodating when it comes to arranging for the
tenant to get his locked-up belongings back.
Getting a Money Judgment
for Rent and Costs
Once the tenants have moved out of the premises, you
should seek a judgment for the money they owe you.
Although a court clerk can give you a Judgment for
Possession of the premises, a money judgment for the
rent and court costs (including filing, process server,
writ, and sheriff’s fees) has to be approved by a judge
at a “default hearing.” You must also prepare a Request
for Entry of Default (the same form you used earlier,
filled out differently) and a Judgment form.
Unlawful detainer money judgments against tenants
are notoriously difficult to collect. (We discuss collection
procedures, as well as the likelihood of success, in
Chapter 9.) So why bother getting a judgment? First,
you’ve done most of the work already, and there isn’t
much more involved. Second, the law gives you ten
years to collect (and another ten years if you renew
your judgment), and you may someday find the tenant
with some money; having a judgment ready will make
it easier to collect if and when that happens.
Determining Rent, Damages, and Costs
The first step is figuring out how much money you’re
entitled to. You won’t know for sure how much this
is until the tenant leaves. Use the following guidelines
and worksheets.
Nonpayment of rent cases.
You are entitled to:
• Overdue rent. This is the amount of rent you
demanded in the three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: You served your three-day notice on
August 3 for $900 rent due on the 1st and covering
August 1 to 31. You got a default Judgment for
Possession on the 16th, and your default hearing
is scheduled for August 23. You are entitled to
judgment for the entire $900 rent for August, even
if the tenant leaves before the end of the month.
Get What You’re Due
Some judges believe that you’re not entitled to the
rent for the entire month if you get your judgment
before the month is up. This is wrong; rent payable
in advance accrues and is due in its entirety for the
whole period, without proration on a daily basis. See
Friedman v. Isenbruck (1952) 111 Cal. App. 2d 326,
335, 224 P.2d 718; and Rez v. Summers (1917) 34
Cal. App. 527, 168 P. 156.
• Leases.
A tenant who was evicted while renting
under a fixed-term lease is legally liable to you
for the balance of the rent on the lease, less what
112 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
you can get from a replacement tenant. (See
The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 2.) However, you have to
bring a separate lawsuit to recover this amount.
The judgment in an unlawful detainer is limited
to the rent the tenant owed when served with a
three-day notice, plus prorated daily rent up until
the date of judgment.
• Damages. If, after you obtained a default Judg-
ment for Possession, the tenant stayed past the
end of the period for which rent was due, you are
entitled to an additional award of “damages at the
rate of reasonable rental value” for each day the
tenant stayed beyond the initial rental period. You
specified the reasonable daily rental value (1/30th
of one month’s rent) in Item 10 of the Complaint.
EXAMPLE: You were a little too patient and
didn’t serve your three-day notice until the
17th of August. You got a default Judgment
for Possession on the 28th, and your tenant
was evicted on September 4. You are entitled
to a judgment for the $900 rent for August.
In addition, you’re entitled to prorated
daily damages for each of the four days in
September the tenant stayed, at the rate of
1/30th of $900 or $30 for each, or $120. The
total is $1,020.
• Your court costs. This does not include things like
copy fees or postage, but does include fees you
had to pay court clerks, the process server, and
the sheriff or marshal.
You cannot get a judgment in this proceeding for the
costs of repairing or cleaning the premises, but you can
deduct them from the security deposit. (If you collected
“last month’s rent,” you cannot use that money toward
cleaning and damages; see The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 5.) If the
deposit won’t cover cleaning and repair costs, you’ll
have to go after the difference in a separate suit in
small claims court, or superior court if the costs are
high enough to justify it.
You do not need to credit the security deposit when
you seek your money judgment. If there is anything left
over after you pay for cleaning and repairs, the balance
is credited against the judgment after you obtain it, not
before. (For more information on how to itemize and
return security deposits, see The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 20.)
EXAMPLE: Lola obtained a judgment for $680,
including rent, prorated damages, and court costs.
She holds her tenant’s $400 security deposit. The
cost of cleaning and repairing is $200, and Lola
subtracts this from the deposit; the remaining $200
of the deposit is applied against the $680 judgment,
so that the tenant owes Lola $480 on the judgment.
Worksheet #1
Calculating Amount of Judgment:
Eviction Based on Nonpayment of Rent
Overdue Rent:
(amount demanded in three-day notice) $
Damages:
days x $ (daily rental value) = $
Court Costs:
$ filing fee
$
process server
$
writ fee
$
sheriff’s or marshal’s fee $
TOTAL $
30-day or 60-day notice cases.
You are entitled to:
• Prorated daily “damages” at the daily rental value
for each day the tenant stayed beyond the 30-day
(or 60-day) notice period. You are not entitled to
judgment for any rent or damages that accrued
before the 30 days (or 60 days) passed. You can,
however, deduct this amount from the security
deposit; see Chapter 9. The daily rental value is
listed in Item 10 of the Complaint.
• Court costs, including your filing, service of
process, writ, and sheriff’s or marshal’s fees.
EXAMPLE: You served Jackson, whose $900 rent
is due on May 15th of each month, with a 60-day
termination notice on April 1. This means he is
required to leave on May 31. He pays the rent for
the period of April 15 through May 14, but refuses
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 113
to leave on the 31st and refuses to pay the $480
prorated rent, due on May 15th, for the period of
May 15 through 31 (1/30th of the $900 monthly
rent, or $30/day, for 16 days). On June 1, you sue
on the 60-day notice, and finally get Jackson out on
June 25. In this kind of unlawful detainer suit, you
are entitled to judgment for prorated daily “damages”
only for the period of June 1 (the day after he
should have left under the 60-day notice) through
June 25 (the day he left), for a total of $750 (25 x
$30/day), and your court costs. To be paid for the
earlier period of May 15 through 31st, you’ll have
to either sue him in small claims court (usually not
worth the trouble) or deduct it from any security
deposit he paid.
Lease violation cases.
You are entitled to:
• “damages,” prorated at the rate of 1/30th the
monthly rent (you listed this figure in Item 10 of
the Complaint) for each day beyond the expiration
of the three-day notice period that the tenant
stayed and for which you haven’t already been
paid in the form of rent, and
• court costs—filing, service, and writ fees.
The amount of your money judgment may be quite
small, and you may get a judgment only for your court
costs, particularly if you accepted the regular monthly
rent in advance for the month during which you served
the three-day notice.
EXAMPLE: Say you accepted the regular monthly
rent of $1,000 from Ron when it was due the first
of the month. Two weeks later, Ron begins having
loud parties. You give Ron a written warning, but
it continues. On the 16th, at the urging of all your
other tenants who threaten to move, you give Ron
an unconditional three-day notice to quit.
Ron doesn’t move, and you file suit on the 20th
and take a default Judgment for Possession on the
26th. The marshal posts a five-day eviction notice
on the 28th, giving Ron until the 3rd of the next
month before he gets the boot. Ron leaves on the
2nd, so you’re out only two days’ prorated rent or
“damages” at the reasonable rental value of $33.33
per day (1/30th x $1,000 per month), for a grand
total of $66.66 plus court costs.
If Ron had misbehaved earlier, and you had
served the three-day notice only a few days after
that, having collected rent on the first of the month,
you might even have gotten Ron out before the
end of the month. In that case, your judgment
would have been for court costs only. Ron isn’t
entitled to a prorated refund for the last few days
of the month for which he paid but didn’t get to
stay, since he “forfeited” his rights under the rental
agreement or lease—including any right to stay for
days prepaid.
No-notice cases.
You are entitled to:
• prorated daily “damages” at the daily rental value
(you listed this figure in Item 10 of the Complaint)
for each day beyond the date of termination of
tenancy (either the date the lease expired or the
termination date of the 30-day notice the tenant
gave you), and
• court costs, including filing, service, and writ fees.
EXAMPLE: Hilda sued Sally, whose six-month lease
expired June 30. Even if Sally hadn’t paid all the
$900 rent for June, Hilda would be entitled only to
prorated daily damages (rental value per day) of
$30 ($900/30) per day for each day beyond June
30 that Sally stayed in possession of the premises.
So, if Hilda got Sally out by July 25, Hilda would be
entitled to damages of 25 x $30, or $750, plus costs.
Past due rent. You cannot seek past-due rent unless
the three-day notice was based on nonpayment of rent.
So, if Sally hadn’t paid all her rent when it was due in
early June, Hilda should have used a three-day notice
and the eviction procedure in Chapter 2.
114 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Worksheet #2
Calculating Amount of Judgment:
Eviction Based on 30-Day or 60-Day Notice,
Violation of Lease or No Notice
Overdue Rent:
(amount demanded in three-day notice) $
Damages:
days x $ (daily rental value) = $
Court Costs:
$ filing fee
$
process server
$
writ fee
$
sheriff’s or marshal’s fee $
TOTAL $
Preparing the Request for Entry of Default
(Money Judgment)
You must complete a second Request for Entry of
Default to get your money judgment. A sample is
shown above.
Fill in the caption boxes the same way you did for
the first Request for Entry of Default form. (See above.)
This time, though, put an X only in the box next to the
words “COURT JUDGMENT.” Do not put an X in any
other box, not even the “Entry of Default” box, since
the defendant’s default has already been entered. Then
fill in the numbered items as follows.
Item 1a: Enter the date you filed the Complaint and
your name, just as you did in the first Request for Entry
of Default.
Item 1b: Type your name.
Item 1c: Leave this box blank. The clerk already
entered the defaults of the defendants when you filed
your first Request for Entry of Default.
Item 1d: Put an X in this box. This asks the clerk to
schedule a “default hearing” in front of a judge. (Some
courts instead accept a written declaration that says
what you’d say in front of the judge. See below.) Type
the defendants’ names.
Item 1e: Leave these boxes blank. This is only for
a clerk’s judgment, and the clerk can’t enter a money
judgment in an unlawful detainer case.
Items 2a-f: In the line entitled “a. Demand of
Complaint,” list in the “Amount” column the total of
rent plus prorated daily damages for any days the
tenant stayed beyond the end of the rental period, as
calculated above in “Determining Rent, Damages, and
Costs.”
For example, in the rent nonpayment example
above, where the tenant didn’t pay the August rent and
stayed until September 4, the past-due rent (for August)
is $900, and the damages are $120 (four September
days at $30—1/30th of $900), for a total of $1,020. This
sum goes in the “Amount” column.
Don’t list anything next to lines b, b(1), or b(2)
entitled “Statement of damages.” This does not apply to
unlawful detainer cases.
Next to “c. Interest” and “e. Attorney fees,” enter
“0.00.” Next to “d. Costs,” enter the total of the filing fee,
the process server’s fee for serving all the defendants,
and other court costs tallied in Item 5. (See below.)
Total these amounts at Item 2f. Under the “Credits
Acknowledged” column, list all amounts and the total as
“0.00,” since the defendant has not paid you anything.
Don’t include the security deposit. Finally, under
“Balance,” list the same amounts as under the “Amount”
column.
Item 2g: List the same prorated daily rent amount and
the same date from which you are asking for prorated
daily damages that you did in the original Request for
Entry of Default. Then, fill in the date you’ll be filing
the default papers with the court, type your name
opposite the place for signature, and sign the form.
Item 3: We have preprinted an “X” in this box, to
indicate the case is an unlawful detainer proceeding.
CAPTION, Second page: Type the names of the
plaintiff and defendant, just as you did on the second
page of the Proof of Service of Summons.
Items 4 and 5: Fill in these items exactly the same as
you did in the original Request for Entry of Default.
Item 6: Fill in this item exactly as you did in the first
Request for Entry of Default, checking box b and entering
the date of mailing of this second one to the defendant’s
address. (Even though the defendant has moved now,
after eviction, that’s still his address as last known to you,
and it could be forwarded.) Mail copies to the tenants
and put “ADDRESS CORRECTION AND FORWARDING
REQUESTED” on the envelopes. This will help you
locate them when you go to collect your money
judgment. (See Chapter 9.)
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 115
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNDOWN BRANCH
X
A-12345-B
August 10, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord
X
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
1,260.00 0.00 1,260.00
0.00 0.00 0.00
192.00 0.00 192.00
0.00 0.00 0.00
1,452.00 0.00 0.00
X
September 12, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
30.00 Sept. 1, 20xx
116 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL A-12345-B
X
X
X
X
X
X
September 12, 20xx Terrence D. Tenant, 6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90012
September 12, 20xx Tillie D. Tenant, 6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, CA 90012
September 12, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
80.00
30.00
writ fee 7.00
sheriff’s eviction fee 75.00
192.00
September 12, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
X
September 12, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 117
Item 7: This is where you total your court costs. List
the clerk’s filing fee and your process server’s fee in
Items 7a and b. In Item 7c, “Other,” type in “writ fee”
and add the cost of the Writ of Possession. Below that,
in Item d, add the sheriff’s eviction fee. Total these
items at Item 7e. This total should also be listed on
Item 2d on the front.
Item 8: Date and sign the Declaration of Nonmilitary
Status the same way you did on the original Request for
Entry of Default.
Preparing a Declaration as to Rent,
Damages, and Costs
Most courts allow you, and many require you, to prepare
a written declaration under penalty of perjury in lieu
of testifying before a judge at a default hearing. The
judge simply reads the declaration’s statements about
rent, damages, and court costs, and awards you a
judgment without a hearing. In the Central Division of
Los Angeles County, you must use a declaration; default
hearings are not held. If you want to get your money
judgment this way rather than attending a default
hearing, call the court and ask whether or not it accepts
declarations in lieu of testimony in unlawful detainer
default cases. If you’d rather testify in person, or if the
court doesn’t allow declarations, proceed to “Preparing
the Proposed Judgment,” below.
In January 2003, the Judicial Council wrote an
optional, statewide form for this type of declaration. In
our opinion it is unnecessarily complex, lengthy, and
legally incorrect. Contrary to our opinion of what the
law is, this form implies that you must attach originals
of certain documents, such as rental agreements and
proofs of services of notices (you might not even have
these). Worse, it requires you to needlessly fill out even
more forms (and perhaps pay additional filing fees) to
get permission from a judge to use copies of original
documents—that you might not have! Fortunately, this
form is optional, so you don’t have to use it. If you find
this form unworkable or difficult, we recommend instead
that you try to use either the typewritten Declaration in
Support of Default Judgment form, or improvise your
own form, based on the following examples. Landlords
using this book have done so since 1986, and courts
have accepted the forms without requiring the use of
original rental agreements or a complete history of rent
increases.
In the event you want to use this statewide
Declaration for Default Judgment by Court form, we
include it in the appendix and on the CD-ROM, and
give you the following instructions for filling it out.
First, enter the information (name, address, court
location, case number, names of plaintiff and defendant)
that you listed in the big boxes at the top of the
Complaint, Request for Entry of Default, and Writ of
Possession forms.
Item 1: Check box 1a. Check box 1b(1) if you own
the property and the facts of the rental are better
known to you than anyone else. If, instead, a property
manager or other agent is better informed than you,
and is therefore signing this declaration, check box
1b(2) or 1b(3) as appropriate.
Item 2: List the complete address of the property.
Item 4a: This item asks for the same information you
supplied in Items 6a and 6b in the Complaint. Fill in the
same information about whether the rental agreement
was written or oral, the names(s) of the defendant(s)
who signed it, the term of the tenancy, and the initial
rent amount and due date.
Item 4b: If you have the original rental agreement,
or attached it to the Complaint (which we didn’t
recommend, because you may need the original at trial
if the case is contested), check this box. If you attached
a copy of the rental agreement to the Complaint and
are now going to attach the original to this declaration,
check the box next to the words “to this declaration,
labeled Exhibit 4b,” and attach the original, labeling it
“Exhibit 4b” at the bottom.
Item 4c: If you do not have an original rental
agreement, and did not attach one to the Complaint,
you are supposed to check this box and the one next
to the words “to this declaration, labeled Exhibit 4c,”
and attach your copy as “Exhibit 4c.” However, if you
do this, you are also required, according to this form,
to include “a declaration and order to admit the copy.”
We think this is legally unnecessary and needlessly
cumbersome; it’s one of the reasons you may choose
not to use this badly designed form and use instead
the typewritten one. But if you use this form and did
not have the original rental agreement or lease, and
did not attach a copy of it to the Complaint, then you
should prepare a separate page explaining why you do
not have the original, followed by the words, “I declare
118 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
under penalty of perjury under the law of the State
of California that the foregoing is true and correct,”
and by the date and your signature. Follow this with a
short paragraph stating “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that
the copy of the lease or rental agreement submitted
herewith as Exhibit 4c may be admitted,” followed by
a signature line labeled “JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR
COURT.” Be prepared to pay the Clerk $26 for the
privilege of using this form and doing it this way.
Item 5: If the rental agreement has not changed since
its inception (for example, you have not increased
the rent, changed the rent due date, or changed any
other term of the tenancy), skip this box and go to the
second page. Otherwise, check the box and any box
for Items 5a through 5f that apply.
If you have increased the rent more than once
during the tenancy, you should check box 5a and add
a separate Attachment 5a listing a complete history
of rent increase, including rent amounts and effective
dates, except for the most recent increase. As to the
most recent increase, check and fill out Item 5b,
indicating the rent before and after the increase, and
the effective date; you also should check box 5b(1)
(tenant paid the increased rent) or box 5b(2) (tenant
was served a notice of change of terms of tenancy) as
appropriate.
In the rare case of an increase by written agreement,
check box 5b(3). If you have the original of such
a document, check box 5e and the box next to “to
this declaration, labeled Exhibit 5e,” and attach that
Agreement, labeled “Exhibit 5e.” If you have only a
copy, attach a separate statement under penalty of
perjury and a proposed judge’s order to admit the copy.
(See similar example for rental agreement copies in
instructions for Item 4c, above.) Check box 5f instead
of 5e, check the words next to “to this declaration,
labeled Exhibit 5f,” and attach the copy labeled “Exhibit
5f.” Again, we think this requirement is unnecessary
and cumbersome, and is another reason you might
prefer to use the typewritten form.
On the second page, list, in capitals, the plaintiff and
defendants’ names and the case number.
Item 6a: Fill out Item 6a, referring to the type of
notice served on the tenant, the same way you filled
out Item 7a of the Complaint.
Item 6b: If the notice served was a three-day notice
to pay rent or quit, check this box to indicate the rent
demanded in the notice (the same dollar figure as in
Item 10 in the Complaint) and the dates of the rental
period (this information should be listed on the three-
day notice to pay or quit).
Item 6c: If the rent demanded in a three-day notice
to pay rent or quit is different from the monthly rent,
explain why. For example, you might type in: “Monthly
rent was $1,000.00, three-day notice demanded only
$800 due to earlier partial payment on March 4, 20xx.”
Item 6d: Check this box and the box next to the
words “The original Complaint.”
Item 7a: List the name(s) of defendant(s) who were
served a three-day, 30-day, or other notice, and the
date of service, in the same way you did in Item 8a in
the Complaint.
Item 7b: Check this box only if you used the optional
procedure in Chapter 6 to have a Prejudgment Claim of
Right to Possession served on unnamed occupants by a
sheriff, marshal, or registered process server. Otherwise,
leave this box blank.
Item 8: If the three-day notice you attached to the
complaint included a filled out Proof of Service at the
bottom, check the box next to the words, “the original
Complaint.” If not, type a proof of service, using our
sample three-day notice’s Proof of Service as a guide,
have the person who served the notice sign it, and
attach that original as “Exhibit 8b.”
Item 9: List the date the three-day, 30-day, or other
notice expired. This should be the same date listed in
Item 7b of your Complaint.
Item 10: List the same daily fair rental value of the
property that you listed in Complaint Item 11, and
check box b.
Item 11: Since you should have waited until after the
tenant vacated to fill out this form, check box 11a only,
and list the date the tenant vacated.
Item 12: Check this box. In Item 12a, list the date
you listed in Complaint Item 17f. In Item 12b, again
list the date the tenant vacated. In Item 12c, list the
number of days between the date in Item 12a and 12b,
including both those dates. (For example, if the day in
12a is January 10 and the day in 12b is January 15, the
number of days is 6, not 5.) In Item 12d, multiply this
number of days by the daily fair-rental-value damages
amount in Item 10. This amount is called the “holdover
damages” figure that goes in Item 15a(2) on the next page.
Item 13: Leave this item blank.
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 119
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-1234
LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES
LENNY D. LANDLORD A-12345-B
TERRENCE D. TENANT, et al
6789 Angel
Street, Apartment 10
Los Angeles Los Angeles
August 1 20 xx
900.00
first
X
Sample Declaration for Nonpayment of Rent
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Declaration in Support of Default Judgment
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for Rent, Damages, and Costs
Page 1 of 2
©nol
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF DEFAULT
v. ) JUDGMENT FOR RENT, DAMAGES, AND COSTS
)
)
Defendant(s). )
) (C.C.P. SECS. 585(d), 1169)
I, the undersigned, declare:
1. I am the plaintiff in the above-entitled action and the owner of the premises at
, City of
, County of , California.
2. On , , defendant(s) rented the premises from me pursuant
to a written/oral [cross out one] agreement under which the monthly rent was $ payable
in advance on the day of each month.
3. The terms of the tenancy [check one]:
were not changed; or
were changed, effective , , in that monthly rent was
validly and lawfully increased to $ by agreement of the parties and subsequent payment
of such rent; or
[month-to-month tenancy only] service on defendant(s) of a written notice of at least 30 days, setting forth
120 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
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the increase in rent.
4. The reasonable rental value of the premises per day, that is, the current monthly rent divided by 30, is
$ .
5. Pursuant to the agreement, defendant(s) went into possession of the premises.
6. On , , defendant(s) were in default in the payment of rent in
the amount of $ , and I caused defendant(s) to be served with a written notice demanding that
defendant(s) pay that amount or surrender possession of the premises within three days after service of the notice.
7. Defendant(s) failed to pay the rent or surrender possession of the premises within three days after service of
the notice, whereupon I commenced this action, complying with any local rent control or eviction protection
ordinance applicable, and caused Summons and Complaint to be served on each defendant. Defendant(s) have
failed to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint within the time allowed by law.
8. Defendant(s) surrendered possession of the premises on , ,
after entry of a clerk’s Judgment for Possession and issuance of a Writ of Execution thereon.
9. The rent was due for the rental period of , ,
through , . After this latter date, and until defendant(s) vacated the
premises, I sustained damages at the daily reasonable rental value of $ , for total damages of
$ .
10. I have incurred filing, service, and writ fees in the total amount of $ in this action.
11. If sworn as a witness, I could testify competently to the facts stated herein.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and
correct.
DATED: ,
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment
www.nolo.com
for Rent, Dama
g
es, and Costs
Page 2 of 2
©nol
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August 3 20xx
900.00
September 9 20xx
August 1 20xx
August 31 20xx
30.00
270.00
192.00
September 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord
30.00
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 121
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Name: LORNA D. LANDLADY
Address: 3865 Oak Street
Anaheim, CA 92801
Phone: 818-555-1234
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ORANGE
CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY JUDICIAL DIVISION
LORNA D. LANDLADY ) Case No. 5-0368
Plaintiff, )
) DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF DEFAULT
v. ) JUDGMENT FOR DAMAGES AND COSTS
)
TERESA A. TENANT , et al )
Defendant(s). ) (C.C.P. SECS. 585(d), 1169)
)
I, the undersigned, declare:
1. I am the plaintiff in the above-entitled action and the owner of the premises at 15905 Lafayette
Street, Apartment 202, City of Anaheim, County of Orange, California.
2. On September 1, 20xx, defendant(s) rented the premises from me pursuant to a written one-year
lease under which the monthly rent was $900.00 payable in advance on the first day of each month.
The terms of the agreement have not been changed.
3. Pursuant to the agreement, defendants went into possession of the premises.
4. Defendants last paid rent on March 1, 20xx, for March.
5. On March 14, 20xx, Teresa began having loud parties that would begin around noon and last
until about 4 a.m. On the 14th, my other tenants began to complain and threaten to move. I went to
the apartment above, and the floor was vibrating from all the noise. I knocked at Teresa’s door, but
apparently no one could hear the knocking, with the music as loud as it was. Finally, I just walked in,
found Teresa, and asked her to turn down the music. She did, but she turned it back up when I left. The
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment for Damages and Costs Page 1 of 2
Sample Declaration for Violation of Lease
122 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
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same thing happened the next two days.
6. On March 16, 20xx, I caused defendant to be served with a three-day notice to perform
covenant or quit. She had another party on the 18th and didn’t leave on the 19th, so I filed suit on the
20th.
7. I obtained a default Judgment for Possession on March 28, 20xx.
8. Defendant moved out on the second day of April.
9. The damages for the period I didn’t receive rent were equal to the prorated daily reasonable
rental value of $20.00 per day, which for two days is $40.00. My court costs have been $80.00 for the
filing fee, $30.00 process server’s fees, $3.50 for issuance of the Writ of Possession, and $75.00 to have
the sheriff evict, for a total of $188.50
10. If sworn as a witness, I could testify competently to the facts stated herein.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true
and correct.
DATED:
April 15, 20xx
Lorna D. Landlady
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment for Damages and Costs Page 2 of 2
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 123
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©nol
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF DEFAULT
v. ) JUDGMENT FOR DAMAGES AND COSTS
)
)
Defendant(s). ) (C.C.P. SECS. 585(d), 1169)
)
I, the undersigned, declare:
1. I am the plaintiff in the above-entitled action and the owner of the premises at
, City of
, County of , California.
2. On , , defendant(s) rented the premises from me pursuant to
a written/oral [cross out one] agreement under which the monthly rent was $ payable in
advance on the day of each month.
3. The terms of the tenancy [check one]:
were not changed; or
were changed, effective , , in that monthly rent was
validly and lawfully increased to $ by
agreement of the parties and subsequent payment of such rent; or
[month-to-month tenancy only] service on defendant(s) of a written notice of at least 30 days, setting forth
LINDA D. LANDLADY
459 ROSE STREET
BERKELEY, CA 94710
510-555-1234
ALAMEDA
OAKLAND-PIEDMONT-EMERYVILLE
LINDA D. LANDLADY 5-0258
THAD TENANT, et al
950 Parker Street
Oakland Alameda
February 1 20xx
400.00
1st
X
Sample Declaration: 30-, 60-, or 90-Day Notice
124 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
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the increase in rent.
4. The reasonable rental value of the premises per day, that is, the current monthly rent divided by 30, is
$ .
5. Pursuant to the agreement, defendant(s) went into possession of the premises.
6. On , , I served defendant with a written 30-day/ 60-day
[cross out one] termination notice.
7. Defendant(s) was still in possession of the property after the period of the notice expired on
, , and stayed until , ,
when the sheriff evicted him/her/them pursuant to a clerk’s Judgment for Possession and issuance of a Writ of
Execution.
8. I sustained damages at the daily reasonable rental value of $ for days
between , and ,
for a total of $ .
9. I have incurred filing, service, and writ fees in the total amount of $ in this action.
10. If sworn as a witness, I could testify competently to the facts stated herein.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and
correct.
DATED: ,
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Declaration in Support of Default Judgment
www.nolo.com
for Damages and Costs
Page 2 of 2
©nol
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13.33
August 30 20xx
September 30 20xx October 20 20xx
13.33 21
September 30 20xx October 20 20xx
279.93
188.50
October 31 20xx
Linda D. Landlady
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 125
Item 14: Check this box and list your total court
costs, consisting of filing fee, cost indicated on returned
Summons for service of process, fee for issuance of Writ
of Possession, and sheriff’s or marshal’s eviction fee.
This item goes in Item 15a(3), “Costs.”
On the top of page 3, again list names of plaintiff,
defendant(s), and case number.
Item 15: Check Item 15a and list past-due rent from
Item 6b, “holdout damages” from Item 12d, and costs
from Item 14. Add them for a “total judgment” amount.
Leave box 15b blank. If the eviction is based on rent
nonpayment or other breach, check the box in Item
15c as applicable—either the one next to “cancellation
of the rental agreement” for a month-to-month rental
agreement, or “forfeiture of the lease” in the case of a
fixed term lease.
Finally, date and sign the document and check any
of Items 16 through 23 to indicate what exhibits you’ve
added.
We also include a Los Angeles County form that
some courts there require you to use. (Some samples
are shown above for a Declaration in Support of De-
fault Judgment form.) If you do your own declaration
using our template, prepare it on typed, double-spaced
8½" x 11" legal (pleading) paper with the numbers
down the left-hand side.
Blank, tear-out versions of a Declaration in Support
of Default Judgment for Rent, Damages, and Costs,
and Declaration in Support of Default Judgment for Damages
and Costs, are in Appendix 3. The Judicial Council form
is also in that appendix. The CD-ROM also includes these
forms. Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
Evictions based on violation of a lease provision or
causing a nuisance.
Such an eviction results in the
tenant’s “forfeiture” of the right to stay for a period for
which he already paid rent. In cases like this, judges are
more reluctant to find in your favor, even in a default
situation, so you have to be very specific and detailed
in your testimony. You must explain how the tenant
committed a “material” (serious) breach of the lease,
illegally sublet, or committed a nuisance. Otherwise, a
judge could rule that the eviction was unfounded, even
though you got the tenant out with a Clerk’s Judgment
and Writ of Possession.
Preparing the Proposed Judgment
You should prepare a proposed judgment for the judge
to sign. That way, you’ll be able to simply hand the
form to the judge to sign right after the hearing, instead
of going home to prepare the judgment and going back
to court to leave it for his signature.
A blank, tear-out version of the Judgment—Unlawful
Detainer form is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM
includes this form. Instructions for using the CD are in
Appendix 2.
The usual information goes in the big boxes at the
top of this Judgment form. It’s the same information you
used on the form for a clerk’s judgment for possession.
In the box containing the words “JUDGMENT—
UNLAWFUL DETAINER,” put an X in the boxes next to
the words “By Court Only” and “By Default.”
Item 1: Put an X in Item 1 next to the words “BY
DEFAULT,” and also in box 1e next to the words
“Court Judgment.” Then check box 1e(1) if you will be
attending a live default hearing, or box 1e(2) if you will
be submitting a written declaration.
Item 2: Leave this part blank and proceed to the
other side (page 2) of the form. At the top of page 2,
fill in the names, in capitals, of the plaintiff (you), the
first named defendant (followed by “ET AL” if there is
more than one defendant), and the court case number.
Also, put an X in the box following the words, “THE
COURT,” which itself follows the words “JUDGMENT IS
ENTERED AS FOLLOWS BY:”
Item 3: Put an X in Box 3a and type, in upper and
lower case, the name(s) of the plaintiff(s) and the
names of all defendants against whom you’re obtaining
this default judgment for the money owed you. Leave
box 3b blank.
Items 4 and 5: Leave these items blank, since you
already have a judgment for possession of the property
from the clerk.
Item 6: All the items here are exactly the same as
in Item 15 of the statewide Declaration for Default
Judgment by Court form. Check boxes 6 and 6a and, in
Item 6a(1), (2), and (4), check and list, as applicable,
the rent, holdover damages, and costs, and add these
for a “total judgment” amount in Item 6a(6). If the
eviction is based on rent nonpayment or other breach,
126 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
check, in Item 6c, either “The rental agreement is
canceled” or “The lease is forfeited,” as appropriate.
Items 7 and 8: Leave these blank.
Submitting Your Papers and/or Going
to the Default Hearing
Make one copy of the proposed money judgment for
your records, and one copy of the Request for Entry
of Default for yourself plus one for each defendant.
Mail a copy of the Request for Entry of Default to each
tenant, and sign the proof of mailing on the back of the
original. If you are submitting a declaration, also make
a copy of it. You need to mail each defendant only a
copy of the Request for Entry of Default, not a copy of
any declaration or proposed judgment.
If you’re submitting a declaration, give the original
and copies of the Request for Entry of Default and
the declaration to the court clerk, who should file
the originals and rubber-stamp the copies and return
them to you. Also give her the original and copy of
the proposed judgment, which she will hold on to for
submission to the judge. After a few days, the judge
should sign the original, and the clerk will file it and
return your copy to you. (To avoid another trip to the
courthouse, give the clerk a self-addressed, stamped
envelope in which to mail your copy of the judgment.)
Once you get the judgment, you will be ready to proceed
to Chapter 9 to have the sheriff or marshal collect it.
If you are going to appear before a judge at a default
hearing, file only the Request for Entry of Default
and ask the court clerk to set a hearing date. In most
counties, hearings are held on certain days and times
during the week. The defendant is not allowed to
participate in the hearing, and therefore is not given
any notice of it—she missed the chance to fight by not
answering the Complaint within the time allowed.
On the day of the default hearing, take the original
and copy of the proposed judgment and go to court a
few minutes early. If you’re lucky, you may see another
landlord testifying before your case is called. When the
clerk or judge calls your case, go forward and say to
the judge something like, “Good morning, Your Honor,
I’m Lenny D. Landlord appearing in pro per.” The clerk
will swear you in as your own witness. Some judges
prefer that you take the witness stand, but others will
allow you to present your case from the “counsel table”
in front of the judge’s bench.
You should be prepared to testify to the same kinds
of facts that go into written declarations. (See above.)
Lenny Landlord’s testimony should go something like
this:
“My name is Lenny D. Landlord. On January 1, 20xx,
I rented my premises at 6789 Angel Street, Apartment
10, to Terrence and Tillie Tenant, the defendants in
this proceeding. They signed a rental agreement for a
month-to-month tenancy. I have a copy of the rental
agreement, which I wish to introduce into evidence as
Exhibit No. 1. The rent agreed on was $850 per month,
but on May 31, 20xx, I gave the defendants a 30-day
notice that the rent would be increased to $900 per
month effective July 1, 20xx. This amount of rent was
paid in July 20xx, but on August 1 the defendants failed
to pay the rent for August. On August 3 I served Tillie
Tenant with a three-day notice to pay rent or quit. I
have a copy of the three-day notice which I wish to
introduce into evidence as Exhibit No. 2. They didn’t
pay the rent and were still in possession on August
8, and I filed this lawsuit on August 9. They left the
premises on August 25, but I believe I’m entitled to the
rent for all of August.”
If Lenny’s tenants hadn’t been evicted until, say,
September 9, Lenny’s last sentence would instead be
something like:
“They left the premises on September 9, so I
sustained damages at the daily reasonable rental value
rate of $30 for nine days, for damages of $270, in
addition to the $900 contract rent, for total rent and
damages of $1,170.”
Finally, Lenny might want to add the following
testimony about his court costs:
“My court costs have been $90 for the filing fee, $30
process server’s fee for serving both defendants, $7.00
for issuance of the original Writ of Possession, and $75
to have the marshal post the eviction notice, for a total
of $202.”
If you need to call another witness such as an agent
who entered into the rental agreement on your behalf
or a person who served the three-day notice, tell this to
the judge and have that person testify.
The judge may ask you a question or two, but
probably won’t if you’ve been thorough. He will then
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 127
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-5678
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Los Angeles
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Central District/Downtown Branch
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
X
A-12345-B
X
128 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
X
Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
list rent demanded in
any three-day notice
list prorated damages
list court costs—filing, service, sheriff fees
Total
CHAPTER 7: TAKING A DEFAULT JUDGMENT 129
announce the judgment that you should get possession
of the property (in effect repeating the part of the
judgment you got from the clerk) plus a specified
amount of rent/damages, plus costs. Don’t be afraid to
ask the judge to specify the dollar amount of the court
costs. (That way you’ll have judgment for them without
having to file another form called a Memorandum of
Costs.) Also, don’t be afraid to politely differ with the
judge (“Excuse me, Your Honor, but ...”) as to the
dollar amount of the rent/damages if you’re sure you
calculated the amount correctly—especially if the judge
awarded only part of the rent for the first month the
tenant didn’t pay. You’re entitled to the entire amount
of unpaid rent that came due at the beginning of the
month even if the tenant left before the month’s end.
Once the judge gives judgment in your favor, hand
the judgment form with the correct amounts filled in
to the courtroom clerk, and ask him to file-stamp and
return a copy to you. We discuss how to collect the
money part of the judgment in Chapter 9. ■
C H A P T E R
8
Contested Cases
What Is Involved in a Contested Eviction Case .......................................................... 133
Should You Hire an Attorney? .................................................................................... 133
How to Settle a Case ................................................................................................. 134
Why Settle? .......................................................................................................... 134
What Kind of Agreement Should You Make? ......................................................... 134
The Tenant’s Written Response to an Unlawful Detainer Complaint .......................... 140
Motions as Responses to an Unlawful Detainer Complaint ................................... 140
Demurrers ............................................................................................................ 142
The Tenant’s Answer ............................................................................................. 143
Responding to the Answer......................................................................................... 147
The Request to Set Case for Trial—Unlawful Detainer .......................................... 147
Summary Judgment .............................................................................................. 151
Other Pretrial Complications ..................................................................................... 170
Countermemo to Set/Jury Demand ....................................................................... 170
Discovery Requests .............................................................................................. 170
Preparing for Trial ..................................................................................................... 171
What You Have to Prove at Trial ........................................................................... 172
Elements of Your Case .......................................................................................... 172
Assessing and Countering the Tenant’s Defenses ................................................... 173
Preparing the Judgment Form ............................................................................... 174
The Trial .................................................................................................................... 179
The Clerk Calls the Case ...................................................................................... 179
Last-Minute Motions ............................................................................................ 180
Opening Statements ............................................................................................. 180
132 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Presenting Your Case ............................................................................................ 181
The Tenant’s Case ................................................................................................. 182
Your Rebuttal ....................................................................................................... 182
Closing Arguments ............................................................................................... 182
The Judge’s Decision ............................................................................................ 182
The Writ of Execution and Having the Sheriff or Marshal Evict .................................. 182
Appeals ..................................................................................................................... 183
Appeals by the Landlord ...................................................................................... 183
Appeals by the Tenant .......................................................................................... 183
Tenant’s Possible “Relief From Forfeiture” .................................................................. 183
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 133
R
ead this chapter only if the tenant has filed a
response to your unlawful detainer Complaint.
This chapter outlines how a contested unlawful
detainer suit is resolved, either by settlement between
the parties or at a trial. The purpose is to give you a
solid idea of how a typical case is likely to proceed. We
do not, and cannot, provide you with the full guidance
necessary to handle all contested unlawful detainer
cases to a successful conclusion. But we believe that
an overview of the process is necessary whether you
hire a lawyer or decide that your particular situation is
simple enough that you can do it yourself.
If the tenant has not filed a response to your
unlawful detainer Complaint, and you have waited
at least five days, you are entitled to seek a default judg-
ment. That procedure is described in detail in Chapter 7.
What Is Involved in a Contested
Eviction Case
Your tenant can complicate your life enormously simply
by filing one or two pieces of paper with the court
and mailing copies to you. If the tenant files a written
response to your unlawful detainer Complaint (whether
it is in the form of a motion, demurrer, or answer), you
will have to fill out some additional documents and
probably appear in court one or more times. All of this
will require that you be very much on your toes. As a
general rule, judges will not evict a tenant unless every
legal “t” and “i” has been scrupulously crossed and
dotted. In a contested case, some or all of the following
may occur:
• If you or your process server erred in some
particular of service, you may have to start from
scratch by serving the tenant with a new notice to
quit and/or a new Summons and Complaint.
• If the tenant convinces the judge that the Complaint
you filed is deficient in some particular, you may
have to redraft your Complaint one or more times,
without any guidance from the judge.
• If your tenant accuses you, you may have to
defend against such charges as:
■
You illegally discriminated against the tenant
(for example, the tenant is gay, the tenant is
Latino).
■
The premises were legally uninhabitable.
■
Your eviction is in retaliation against the
tenant for complaining to the health authorities
or organizing other tenants.
■
Your eviction is in violation of the local rent
control ordinance.
• You may have to disclose large amounts of
business and sometimes personal information to
the tenant by answering written questions under
oath (interrogatories), producing documents, and
allowing the tenant to inspect the premises.
• You may have to appear before a judge (or jury)
to argue your case.
• Even if you win, your tenant may be entitled to
remain on the premises because of a hardship.
• Even if you win, if you have evicted your tenant
for the wrong reasons, you may be setting
yourself up for a lawsuit for wrongful eviction.
• If you lose, you’re back to the drawing board
and will owe the tenant court costs (and perhaps
attorney’s fees, if the tenant was represented by
an attorney) and maybe some damages as well.
Should You Hire an Attorney?
Clearly, you may be in for a good deal of trouble if
your tenant contests your suit. Does this mean you
should simply give up and hire a lawyer? At the very
least, once you become aware of the tenant’s response
(and assuming you have not already filed for a default
judgment), you should seriously consider locating
and hiring an attorney experienced in landlord/tenant
matters. Without knowing the particulars of a given
contested case, it is impossible to predict whether or
not you can safely handle it on your own.
Unless you are extremely experienced in these
matters, you should always turn the case over to a
lawyer if the tenant:
• is represented by a lawyer
• makes a motion or files a demurrer (these terms
are explained below)
• demands a jury trial, or
• alleges any of the following defenses in his
answer (discussed in “Preparing for Trial,” below):
■
violation of a rent control ordinance
■
discriminatory eviction
134 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
■
retaliatory eviction, or
• requests extensive pretrial disclosure of information
that you feel would be harmful to disclose.
Understandably, you may be reluctant to turn the
case over to a lawyer when you’ve taken it this far
on your own. We’re reluctant to recommend lawyers,
too. The whole point of this book, after all, is to equip
you to handle your unlawful detainer suit yourself.
Unfortunately, we can’t anticipate and prepare you to
deal with every possible defense a tenant’s lawyer may
throw at you, or for that matter even predict what the
tenant will raise in a motion. In short, once you find
yourself facing a contested unlawful detainer suit,
getting experienced help may be your best, and in the
long run most cost-efficient, bet.
How to Settle a Case
You may negotiate a settlement with a tenant before or
even during trial. Although it may not seem true in the
heat of battle, it is our experience that considering the
usually unpalatable alternative of a trial, it is very often
in your economic interest to reach a settlement short of
trial. That’s why most unlawful detainer cases are settled
without a trial.
Why Settle?
Why is a reasonable—or sometimes even a somewhat
unreasonable—settlement better than fighting it out in
court? Aside from the possibility that your tenant might
win the lawsuit (as well as a judgment against you for
court costs and attorney’s fees), the time and trouble
entailed in going to court often mean you are better off
compromising. Even landlords who plow forward to
trial and ultimately “win” a court judgment commonly
suffer a larger out-of-pocket loss than if they had have
compromised earlier. For example, a tenant who refuses
to pay the $1,000 rent on the first of the month will be
able to stay anywhere from four to six weeks before
having to leave if he properly contests an unlawful
detainer case. This means that if the tenant loses
the case and is evicted after six weeks, the landlord
loses $1,500 rent in the meantime, plus court costs
approaching $200. If the landlord hires a lawyer, he’ll
be out at least another several hundred dollars, and
probably a good deal more if a full-scale trial develops.
Although these amounts will be added to the judgment
against the tenant, the truth is that a great many such
judgments are uncollectable. (See Chapter 9.)
Given this unhappy reality, the landlord is usually
ahead of the game by accepting a reasonable
compromise, even if the tenant gets an unfairly
favorable result. Depending on the situation, this may
mean that a tenant who has violated a lease or rental
agreement provision is allowed to stay on if all past-
due rent is paid. Or if the tenant is simply impossible
to have around over the long term, the landlord may
want to enter into a written settlement agreement under
which the tenant agrees to leave within a few weeks
in exchange for the forgiveness of some or even all the
rent that will have accrued through that time.
No matter what sort of deal you make, if it involves
the tenant moving out, it should be in writing, and
should provide you with an immediate eviction remedy
should the tenant refuse to keep his part of the bargain.
EXAMPLE: When Dmitri fails to pay his rent of
$1,000 on May 1, Ivan serves him with a three-day
notice. When that runs out without Dmitri paying
the rent, Ivan sues Dmitri for an eviction order and
the $1,000. Dmitri contests the suit with an answer
that alleges Ivan breached the implied warranty of
habitability by not getting rid of cockroaches. Ivan
believes this is nonsense because he maintains
the building very well, but does concede that the
building is old and that tenants have had occasional
problems with bugs and rodents. At trial, Ivan will
attempt to prove that Dmitri’s poor housekeeping
caused the cockroaches and that Dmitri never
complained about them before filing his Answer.
Both Ivan and Dmitri think they will win at trial,
but each is sensible enough to know he might lose
and that a trial will certainly take up a lot of time,
money, and energy. So they (or their lawyers) get
together and hammer out a settlement agreement.
Dmitri agrees to give Ivan a Judgment for Possession
of the property, effective July 1, and Ivan agrees to
drop his claim for back rent.
What Kind of Agreement Should You Make?
There are two ways in which you and the tenant can
settle the unlawful detainer lawsuit. You can agree to
either of the following:
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 135
• You’ll file an unconditional entry of a judgment
awarding you certain things, like possession
of the property and rent, without your having
to go back to court again (we’ll call this the
“unconditional judgment” option).
• You will be entitled to a judgment if the tenant
fails to do certain things (such as leave or pay by
a certain date), and that a tenant who complies
as promised will be entitled to a dismissal of the
lawsuit. We’ll refer to this second option as the
“deferred judgment” option.
Here’s the difference between these two approaches:
With an unconditional entry of judgment, the tenant
agrees that the landlord is entitled to file an unlawful
detainer judgment that can be enforced on a certain
date. With the deferred judgment option—an agreement
that judgment will be entered if the tenant fails to
comply as promised (and to dismiss the case if the
tenant does comply)—the landlord does not initially
have a judgment and must take additional steps to get
one if he needs it.
Clearly, the unconditional entry of judgment favors
the landlord, because if things go awry, the landlord
won’t have to go back to court. And an agreement
that judgment will be entered only if the tenant fails to
comply favors the tenant, because if the tenant does
not live up to the conditions, the landlord will have to
revive the lawsuit that has been put on hold. Of course,
the tenant will also prefer the second route because
he’ll undoubtedly expect to perform as he promises
(to move or pay), and would like to have the lawsuit
dismissed, rather than suffer the consequences of
having a judgment on file against him.
No matter which route you choose, you’ll need to fill
out a form called a Stipulation for Entry of Judgment.
You’ll fill it out differently, however, depending on your
choice. Instructions for both ways of completing the
form are below.
In previous editions of this book, we called the
first type of agreement for an unconditional entry
of judgment a Stipulation for Judgment, because under
a “stipulation,” or agreement, you were automatically
entitled to a judgment. We referred to the second kind of
agreement as a Settlement Agreement. Effective January
2003, a new Judicial Council form called a Stipulation for
Entry of Judgment can be used to reflect either of these
types of agreements. Because of the potential for confusion
between the Stipulation for Entry of Judgment form and
the term “Stipulation for Judgment,” we no longer use this
latter term.
How to Negotiate With a Tenant
Here are some thoughts on negotiating with a
tenant you are trying to get out:
• Be courteous, but don’t be weak. If you have
a good case, let the tenant know you have the
resources and evidence to fight and win if you
can’t reach a reasonable settlement.
• Don’t get too upset about how the tenant is
using the system to get undeserved concessions
out of you, and don’t be so blinded by moral
outrage that you reject workable compromises.
At this point you want to balance the costs of
a settlement against the costs of fighting it out
and choose the less expensive alternative. If
this sometimes means that a rotten tenant gets a
good deal, so be it. The alternative, your getting
an even worse deal from California’s court
system, is even less desirable.
For advice on negotiating techniques, see Getting
to Yes: Negotiating Agreements Without Giving
In, by Fisher and Ury, of the Harvard Negotiation
Project (Penguin).
Designing an Agreement for the Deferred
Judgment Option
For the reasons just explained, we do not recommend
that you choose the second, deferred judgment option
unless there are some very solid reasons why you think
the tenant will deliver on his promises. If you go that
route, however, keep in mind that you’re offering a
substantial benefit to the tenant: the opportunity to avoid
the negative mark of an eviction judgment on his credit
record, which will haunt him for years. In exchange for
your agreement to dismiss the lawsuit if he performs,
be sure that there is a fair trade-off, such as your getting
an immediate, substantial payment of cash. If he
doesn’t come through and you’re forced to file for a
judgment, you’ll have just that—a mere judgment for
money can be hard to collect.
136 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 North Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL/DOWNTOWN
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D., Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X Lenny D. Landlord
X
6789 Angeleno St., Apt. 10, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
X
X
900.00
X
300.00
X
123.00
1,232.00 X Nov. 1, 20xx
X
X
X
X X
P.O. Box 1234, Los Angeles, CA 90010-1234
X
Sept. 30, 20xx
X
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 137
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
Sept. 8, 20xx
LENNY D. LANDLORD
Sept. 8, 20xx
TERRENCE D. TENANT
TILLIE D. TENANT
138 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
You should also avoid agreements under which
the tenant promises to pay a past-due rent in future
installments. Even if the agreement says you get a
judgment for possession if the tenant fails to pay the
installments, you’ll still have to file papers and go back
to court to get a judgment for the amount of the unpaid
installments.
Completing the Stipulation for Entry of Judgment
Form
Whether you and the tenant agree that you can file a
judgment right now, or decide that you will file one
only if the tenant fails to perform as promised, you’ll
need to complete and file a form. Here are instructions
for both routes. On the preceding pages is a filled-out
sample Stipulation for Entry of Judgment form.
A blank Stipulation for Entry of Judgment is included
in Appendix 3, together with a Judgment—Unlawful
Detainer Attachment (Form UD-110S), which you might
use as an attachment to this form in certain situations
(see Item 6c instructions, below). If you pursue an
unconditional judgment or a deferred judgment, you will
not need a separate Judgment Pursuant to Stipulation (the
stipulation becomes the judgment when the judge signs it).
By now, you’re familiar with the beginning parts of
these forms. As with all Judicial Council forms, in the
boxes at the top of the form list your name, address, and
telephone number; the words “Plaintiff in Pro Per”; the
court, county, court address, and branch, if applicable;
and names of the plaintiff and defendants, as well as
the case number.
Item 1: List your name and the names of the
defendants who will be signing this stipulation.
Item 2: If the tenant will be vacating the property,
put an X in the box next to the word “Plaintiff.” Do
not put an X in the box next to the word “Defendant,”
unless the tenant will be staying in possession of the
premises, presumably after having come up to date
on the rent that will accrue through the current month
or other rental period, plus your court costs, paid
immediately in cash or by cashier’s or certified check or
money order.
Item 2a: List the complete address of the property,
including street address; unit number, if any; city; and
county.
Item 2b: If the tenant will be vacating the property,
put an X in the box next to either the words
“cancellation of the rental agreement” or “forfeiture of
the lease,” as applicable.
Items 2c–2: If the tenant will be paying past-due
rent, and/or prorated daily damages, put Xs where
appropriate and indicate the dollar amount(s) in these
items.
Item 2f: If the tenant will also be paying your court
costs, put an X in this box and indicate the amount.
Item 2g: If you are stating in Item 2 that you, the
plaintiff, are awarded the things listed, and you agree
that you will not have to return the tenant’s security
deposit to him or her, put an X in this box and indicate
the dollar amount of the deposit. (Avoid agreeing to
this, if possible, because it will leave you without any
funds to claim or repair the premises, after the tenant
has vacated.)
Item 2i: Add up the dollar amounts in Items 2c, 2d,
2f, and 2g.
Item 3: If you have declined to agree (as we suggest
in the instructions for Item 2g, above) to apply the
tenant’s security deposit before he or she moves
out, then you should check box 3a or 3b, indicating
the deposit will be subject to proper deductions (for
cleaning and damages) in the normal fashion. We
recommend negotiating for a promise to return and/
or itemizing the tenant’s security deposit within three
weeks after he or she vacates the premises, since that
allows you a fund from which to deduct the costs of any
necessary cleaning or repairs in excess of ordinary wear
and tear, and allows you the time ordinarily allowed
by law to do this. If, on the other hand, all you can
negotiate for is to return a certain dollar amount of
the deposit to the tenant by a certain date, then check
box 3a and indicate the dollar amount of the deposit
and date. In either case, if box 3a or 3b is checked,
you should check the items in box 3c to indicate the
tenant’s mailing address, to which you will be mailing
the deposit and/or itemization.
Item 4: Check the box that gives you an immediate
writ of possession. If the tenant will not be moving
prior to a certain agreed date, you should still put an
X in this box, and indicate that date. This allows you
to agree that the tenant may stay in the premises until
a certain date, and to have him or her evicted the
next day if the tenant fails to move. For example, if
the tenant agrees to vacate by June 15, with that date
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 139
specified in Item 4, you can have the clerk issue a Writ
of Possession and give it to the sheriff on June 5, with
appropriate instructions “to conduct final lockout and
delivery of possession of premises to me on or after
June 15, 20xx.” This is important because, otherwise,
there will be a delay of at least one week between the
time you give the sheriff the Writ of Possession, and the
time the tenant will have to leave.
Item 5: If you agree the tenant will pay a certain sum
in monthly installments, this is the place to indicate that
the tenant will pay a certain dollar amount each month,
on a certain day of the month, until the amount listed
in Item 2i has been paid. You can also specify that if
any payment is more than a certain number of days
later, the entire amount listed in Item 2i becomes due.
Items 6a and 6b: Whether you check box 6a or 6b is
one of the most important aspects of this stipulation.
Check box 6a if you have been able to negotiate an
unconditional judgment, hopefully one that says that
you will be entitled to possession of the premises,
whether by a certain date or immediately. If, on the
other hand, you are merely entering into an agreement
for judgment entered in the future, if the tenant fails
to comply with certain conditions (such as failure to pay
rent installments as promised in Item 5), then box 6b
should be checked. In that case, you will also have to
fill out a date, time, and court department, approved by
the judge, for the case to be dismissed, in the event the
tenant complies with all the provisions of this type of
agreement.
Item 6c: Sometimes an actual judgment, which has
certain conditions, can be entered. We’ve characterized
this as a hybrid; you enter the judgment now, but it
doesn’t take effect until later, and only if the court
finds that the conditions have been met. This type of
judgment, however, is about as cumbersome to the
landlord as is the agreement for entry of judgment
in the future if certain conditions have not been met
by the tenant. You can probably see why: It involves
another trip to the courthouse. With this type of
judgment, you’ll need to set a future date for a court
hearing, to determine whether the conditions have or
have not been met. If you want this kind of conditional
judgment, check box 6c, fill out another form called
a Judgment—Unlawful Detainer Attachment (Form
UD-110S), and attach it to the Stipulation for Entry of
Judgment form. We include a blank form of this type
in Appendix 3 and on the CD-ROM, but because we
do not recommend this path, we have not included
instructions on completing it.
Items 6d and 7: If you and the tenant agree on
additional terms, which are not easily adapted to this
form, you should check both these boxes, and indicate
those terms in Item 7 on the reverse side (page 2) of
the form.
Item 8: In Items 8b and 8c, enter the date the
stipulation is signed, together with the printed names
and signatures of all plaintiffs and all defendants.
Once the form is filled out and signed by all parties,
submit it to the judge, who should sign, date, and
file it. If box 6a is checked, this document will be the
equivalent of an unconditional judgment. However, if
box 6b or 6c is checked, you might need to schedule
further court hearings, or to file declarations under
penalty of perjury, in order to proceed further. If box
6b is checked and you end up back in court, you also
will need to submit a separate judgment along with a
written declaration under penalty of perjury, to the effect
that the tenant has not complied with the agreement.
Appearing in Court
Regardless of which type of stipulation you are able to
negotiate with the tenant, the law recognizes only two
ways that stipulations can become binding. Either the
terms must be recited in “open court” in front of a judge,
or they must be in writing. In many ways, a written
agreement is preferable, because it leaves no doubt
as to what was agreed to. But most tenants will not
seriously negotiate until they’re at the courthouse, face
to face with you, about to start trial in a few minutes if
there’s a failure to agree. If you’re facing someone who
won’t even talk to you, it’s often impossible to prepare
a completed written stipulation beforehand.
You may, however, be able to begin negotiations and
even come to a partial agreement with the tenant before
going to court. If so, it’s a good idea to at least fill in
the boxes at the top of the form, including the names
of the parties in Items 1, 2, and 8, and the address of
the premises in Item 2. Finish as much of the remainder
as you can, to reflect the extent of the settlement that’s
been agreed to. Bring an original and several copies to
court with you on the day of trial. If you finalize your
settlement at the courthouse and can complete the form
neatly in ink as the terms are negotiated, you may be
able to present it to the judge for signature and get it
filed (some judges insist on typed forms). If the judge
140 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
won’t accept it, you must recite its terms in court, in
front of a judge, while the proceedings are tape-recorded
or a court reporter takes everything down.
Those of you who are dealing with tenants who
won’t negotiate prior to trial may find that the stomach-
churning prospect of starting trial will convince a tenant
to negotiate and settle. It won’t hurt to be prepared—
fill out parts of the stipulation form as directed above
and hope for the best. If you reach an agreement and
the court will accept a neatly hand-filled form, great. If
the court refuses your form, recite the terms in court,
before a court reporter or in the presence of a tape
recorder.
Unless the tenant(s) and the judge have accepted
and signed a written Stipulation for Entry of
Judgment, or you at least have the terms of the settlement
“on the record,” taken down by a court reporter or tape
recorded, do not tell the judge you have settled the case.
Do not agree to “drop” the matter or take it “off calendar.”
The Tenant’s Written Response to
an Unlawful Detainer Complaint
Sooner or later you will receive a copy of the tenant’s
written response to your unlawful detainer Complaint.
This response can take several forms. Let’s discuss these
Stipulations for Entry of Judgment
Type When judgment is entered in court What happens if tenant doesn’t move? Filling out the form
Unconditional
Judgment
As soon as the judge signs the form, in
Item 9 (“IT IS SO ORDERED”), the form
becomes an unconditional judgment.
Landlord can ask sheriff to evict (see
instructions to Item 4)
Check box 6a.
Deferred
Judgment
When the landlord establishes in court
that the tenant hasn’t complied with
the agreement, the judge will sign the
order.
The landlord will have to appear in
court at a later date, or fi le a declaration
under penalty of perjury, stating how
the tenant has failed to live up to the
agreement, and will have to submit a
separate proposed judgment.
Check box 6b.
Conditional
Judgment
The judgment will be entered after a
court hearing in which the landlord
convinces the judge that the tenant did
not comply.
The landlord initiates the hearing. Check box 6c, but
this method is not
recommended.
in the order of their likelihood, assuming the tenant
has a lawyer or is well-informed about responding to
unlawful detainer Complaints.
Motions as Responses to an Unlawful
Detainer Complaint
A tenant can object to something in your Summons
or Complaint by filing a response which, rather than
answering the Complaint allegations, simply asserts
that the Complaint isn’t technically up to snuff. It is
common for tenants to bring these types of issues to
the attention of the court (and thus obtain delay) in the
form of a request called a motion. A motion is a written
request that a judge make a ruling on a particular issue,
before any trial occurs. Once a motion (or motions)
are filed with the court, the case will automatically be
delayed by several weeks because the tenant doesn’t
have to respond to the substance of your Complaint
until the procedural questions raised in the motion (or
motions) are cleared up.
For example, a tenant (or her attorney) could file a
motion to “quash service of Summons,” in which the
judge is asked to state that the Summons wasn’t properly
served, and to require the landlord to serve it again,
properly. A court hearing to consider the merits of the
motion will normally be held between one and two
weeks after filing.
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 141
Or a tenant who believes a landlord’s request for
extra “statutory damages” due to the tenant’s malicious
conduct isn’t backed up by enough allegations of ill-
will on the tenant’s part can make a motion to have
the judge “strike” (consider as deleted) the request
for statutory damages from the unlawful detainer
Complaint.
To have any motion heard by a judge, a tenant files
a set of typewritten papers. The first paper is a notice
of motion, which notifies you of the date and time
the motion will be heard and summarizes the basis
(“grounds”) for the motion. The second paper is a short
legal essay called a memorandum of points and authorities,
stating why the tenant should win the motion. Motions
sometimes also include a “declaration” in which the
tenant states, under penalty of perjury, any relevant
facts—for example, that the tenant wasn’t properly
served with the Summons.
From the landlord’s point of view, the worst thing
about a tenant’s motion is not that the judge might grant
it, but that it can delay the eviction for at least several
weeks, during which the tenant will not be paying rent.
This is true even if the tenant loses the motion. Motions
generally can be heard no sooner than 26 days after the
tenant files the motion papers and mails copies of them
to the landlord.
(C.C.P. §§ 1177 and 1005.) One exception
is motions to quash, which under C.C.P. § 1167.4(a)
must be heard no later than seven days after filing.
Before the hearing, the landlord should file a written
response arguing that the tenant’s motion should be
denied. The judge will read both sides’ papers in
advance and will allow limited discussion by each side
at the hearing, perhaps asking a few questions. The
judge then rules on the motion. If the motion is denied,
the judge will require the tenant to file an Answer to
the Complaint within five days.
Here is a brief discussion of the kinds of motions
commonly filed in unlawful detainer cases.
The Motion to Quash
Officially called a “motion to quash Summons or service
of Summons,” this motion alleges some defect in the
Summons or the way it was served. (If the defect is in
the way it was served on one tenant, only that tenant
may make this kind of motion.) If the judge agrees, the
case is delayed until you have a new Summons served
on the tenant. Typical grounds for a tenant’s motion to
quash, based on defective service include any of the
following:
• The Summons was served on one defendant but
not the other.
• The wrong person was served.
• No one was served.
• The process server didn’t personally serve the
Summons as claimed in the Proof of Service
(and instead mailed it, laid it on the doorstep, or
served it in some other unauthorized manner).
• You, the plaintiff, served the Summons.
Grounds based on a defect in the Summons itself
include either of the following:
• The wrong court or judicial district is listed.
• The Complaint requests sums not awardable in an
unlawful detainer action, such as pretermination
rent in a 30-day or 60-day notice case, utility
charges, or late security deposit installments; this
makes the case a regular civil action in which a
different Summons giving more than five days to
respond is necessary.
(Greene v. Municipal Court
(1975) 51 Cal. App. 3d 446; Castle Park No. 5 v.
Katherine (1979) 91 Cal. App. 3d Supp. 6; Saberi
v. Bakhtiari (1985) 169 Cal. App. 3d 509.)
If the motion to quash is based on allegations that
can logically be responded to by your process server,
he will have to appear at the hearing on the motion to
testify to when, where, and how the papers were served.
For instance, if the tenant’s motion to quash states that
the Summons and Complaint were served solely by
first-class mail (which is not permitted), you would need
your process server to testify as to how the papers
were, in fact, served. Before the hearing, you should
file with the court clerk the Proof of Service (on the
back of the original Summons) that the process server
filled out.
If you encounter a motion to quash, you will need
the assistance of an attorney unless, of course, you
are able to interpret and contest the tenant’s motion papers
and know how to file and serve your response papers and
argue the motion in a court hearing.
Motion to Strike
A motion to strike asks the judge to strike (delete) all
or part of a Complaint. For example, if your unlawful
detainer Complaint asks for additional statutory
142 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
damages based on the tenant’s “malice,” but without
alleging any specific facts that tend to show the
tenant’s malicious intent, the tenant may make a
motion to strike the statutory damages request from
the Complaint. If the judge grants the motion, it
doesn’t mean that the judge or clerk goes through your
Complaint and crosses out the part objected to, but the
case is treated as if that had been done.
Motions to strike are heard no sooner than 21 days
after the tenant files the motion, which means that, win
or lose on the motion, you lose three weeks.
Other defects in the Complaint that might subject it
to a tenant’s motion to strike include:
• a request for attorneys’ fees, if you don’t allege a
written rental agreement or lease that contains an
attorneys’ fees clause
• a request for prorated daily damages at the
reasonable rental value without an allegation of
the daily rental value
• a request for something not awardable in an
unlawful detainer action (see motions to quash,
above), or
• your failure to “verify” (sign under penalty of
perjury) the Complaint (this could result in a
successful motion to strike the entire Complaint).
How you should respond to a motion to strike
depends on the part of your Complaint objected to,
but in most cases you can shorten the delay caused by
the motion by simply filing and serving an “amended
Complaint” that corrects your errors.
After that, you
must make a motion to be allowed to file another
amended Complaint. (C.C.P. § 472.) Telling you how
and when to file an amended Complaint is beyond
the scope of this book. However, you can only amend
the Complaint once without special permission from
the judge. If you do this, you render the motion to
strike moot and should be able to proceed with your
unlawful detainer without waiting for a hearing.
Assuming there is a hearing on the motion to strike,
the judge will decide whether or not to strike the
material the tenant objects to. Once this is done, the
tenant has to file an Answer within the time allowed by
the judge, usually five days.
You may get a default judgment if the Answer isn’t
filed by that time. (See Chapter 7.)
Demurrers
A “demurrer” is a written response to an unlawful
detainer Complaint that claims that the Complaint (or
the copy of the three-day, 30-day, or 60-day notice
attached to it) is deficient in some way. When a tenant
files a demurrer, he is really saying, “Assuming only for
the purpose of argument that everything the landlord
says in the Complaint is true, it still doesn’t provide
legal justification to order me evicted.” When this is
the case, it’s usually because the Complaint (including
attachments) itself shows that the landlord has not
complied with the strict requirements for preparation
and service of the three-day, 30-day, or 60-day notice.
For example, if the attached three-day notice doesn’t
demand that the tenant pay a specific dollar amount of
rent or leave within three days, it’s obvious from the
Complaint alone that the tenancy has not been properly
terminated, and that the tenant therefore should win.
Typical objections directed to the attached three-day,
30-day, or 60-day notice by a demurrer include any of
the following:
• not stating the premises’ address, or stating an
address different from that alleged elsewhere in
the Complaint
• stating an amount of rent more than that alleged
elsewhere in the Complaint as past due
• including in the termination notice charges other
than rent, such as late fee charges, or
• alleging that the notice was served before the rent
became past due.
Objections directed at the unlawful detainer Complaint
itself include:
• failure to check boxes containing essential
allegations, such as compliance with rent control
or just cause eviction ordinances, or
• allegation of contradictory statements.
Demurrers can often be more technical than motions
to quash or strike. If a successful demurrer is based on
a defect in the notice attached to the Complaint, you
could wind up not only having the eviction delayed,
but also with a judgment against you for court costs
and attorney’s fees. It is for this reason (and because
we simply can’t predict the content of any particular
demurrer) that we tell you to consult an attorney if you
are faced with one.
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 143
The Tenant’s Answer
Sooner or later, if you adequately respond to any motions
or demurrer filed by the tenant, the tenant will be
required to respond to the substance of your Complaint.
This response is called the Answer. It will finally let
you know what aspects of your case the tenant plans
to contest and what other arguments, if any, the tenant
plans to advance as to why she thinks you should lose
(called “affirmative defenses”).
Like your unlawful detainer Complaint, the tenant’s
Answer is usually submitted on a standard fill-in-the-
boxes form. (It can also be typed from scratch on
8½" x 11" paper with numbers in the left margin, but
this is increasingly rare.) A typical Answer is shown
below.
Here is what you need to pay attention to in the
tenant’s Answer.
The Tenant’s Denial of Statements in
the Complaint
The first part of the Answer with which you must
concern yourself is Item 2. Here, the defendant denies
one or more of the allegations of your Complaint. If
box 2a is checked, this means that the tenant denies
everything you alleged.
At trial, you will have to testify to everything you
alleged in the Complaint: ownership, lease or rental
agreement existence, rent amount, rent overdue, service
of three-day notice, refusal to pay rent, and so on.
If box 2b is checked, the space immediately below
should indicate which, if any, of your allegations is
denied, either by specific reference to the numbered
allegation paragraphs in your Complaint or in a concise
statement. At trial, you will be required to offer testimony
or other evidence as to any of your allegations the
tenant denies.
For example, in the sample Answer, Terrence and
Tillie Tenant deny the allegations of paragraphs “6d,
7a(1), 7b(1), 8a(1), 10, and 11” of Lenny Landlord’s
Complaint. This means Lenny has to go back and look at
his Complaint to see exactly what Terrence and Tillie are
denying. He would find that the allegations denied are:
• that Lenny changed the rental agreement by
increasing the rent (Complaint Item 6d)
• that a three-day notice to pay rent or quit was
served (Item 7a(1))
• that the notice expired on August 8 (Item 7b(1))
• that any such notice was served on the date
Lenny indicated (Item 8a(1))
• that the rent due was $900 (Item 10), and
• that the fair rental value is $30 per day (Item 11).
This means that Lenny will, at the very least, have to
have the person who served the three-day notice testify
in court that she in fact served it. Lenny, himself, will
have to testify about when he last received the rent
and how much the tenants owed when the notice was
served.
The Tenant’s Affirmative Defenses
If none of the boxes in Item 3 of the Answer are
checked, skip this discussion and go directly to
“Other Things in the Answer,” below.
In addition to responding to the landlord’s statements
in the Complaint, the tenant is entitled to use the
Answer to make some of his own. These statements (in
Item 3 of the Answer) are called “affirmative defenses.”
The tenant checks the boxes next to any applicable
defenses and explains the relevant facts in some detail
in Item 3j (on the reverse).
If an affirmative defense is proved by the tenant
to the satisfaction of a judge, the tenant wins, even if
everything you said in the unlawful detainer Complaint
is true. The duties imposed on you by law, the breach
of which can give rise to these defenses, are discussed
in detail in Volume 1. Below, we discuss when you
may need an attorney to help you handle a defense,
and, if you decide to go it alone, how you will need to
respond at trial.
If you are still representing yourself, but upon
inspecting the Answer (Item 3) discover that an
affirmative defense is being raised, now is the time to start
looking for help. You should at least consult an attorney to
assess the probable strength of the tenant’s case—even if
you think the affirmative defense is untrue or just a bluff.
We are reluctant to advise a consultation with a lawyer
solely because an affirmative defense is raised by the
tenant. However, please understand that by making such a
response, the tenant is warning you that he has something
in mind that may torpedoyour case. If you proceed on your
own and later are unable to handle the defense, all your
hard work up to this point may go down the drain.
144 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT 213-555-6789
P.O. Box 12345
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Defendants in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES
100 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL/DOWNTOWN
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
A-12345-B
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
6d, 7a(1), 7b(1), 8a(1), 10, 11
X
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 145
LENNY D. LANDLORD
A-12345-B
TERRENCE D. TENANT, et al
Plaintiff failed, after repeated demands, to repair a defective heater, a bathroom toilet that will not
flush, a leaky roof, and a severe cockroach infestation.
X
For reasons set forth
in Item 3j above, the reasonable rental value is only $300.00 per month.
X
Terrence D. Tenant Terrence D. Tenant
Tillie D. Tenant Tillie D. Tenant
August 15, 20xx
Tillie D. Tenant Tillie D. Tenant
146 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Here is a brief description of each affirmative defense
that may be raised in the Answer.
Item 3a: Breach of Warranty of Habitability
In suits based on nonpayment of rent, this defense
asserts that the tenant should be excused from paying
all the rent because of your failure to keep the place in
good repair. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 11.) Technically, the
habitability defense should not be raised in suits based
on reasons other than nonpayment of rent. If a tenant
does assert it improperly, you should object at trial.
Item 3b: Repair-and-Deduct Defense
As discussed in The California Landlord’s Law Book:
Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 11, state statute
forbids an eviction within six months after the exercise
of the tenant’s “repair-and-deduct” rights unless the
notice to quit states a valid reason for the eviction and
the landlord proves the reason in court if the tenant
contests it. Even if you think the tenant’s deduction was
improper, be prepared to prove a valid reason (under
the repair-and-deduct statute) for the eviction.
Item 3c: Refusal of Rent
If you gave the tenant a Three-Day Notice to Pay
Rent or Quit, you must accept rent offered during the
three-day notice period. This defense is occasionally
used when a tenant’s offer of a check is rejected by
the landlord during the three-day period because of a
requirement that payment be made by cash or money
order—usually, after a few bounced checks. As long
as you insisted on being paid by cash or money order
well before the time that the tenant insists on using the
check (and can document this), you should be able to
beat this defense. (See The California Landlord’s Law
Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 3.)
This point is often mistakenly raised by tenants when
landlords properly refuse rent after the applicable
notice period expired. Once the judge understands that
the rent was offered only after the three-day period,
and not before, you should prevail.
Item 3d: Waiver or Cancellation of Notice to Quit
If the landlord acted in a way that was somehow
inconsistent with the three-, 30-, or 60-day notice, the
notice may effectively be cancelled. For example, if
your three-day notice complained about the rent not
being paid on the first of the month, but you’d accepted
it on the fifth every month for the past year, you might
have given up or “waived” the right to complain.
Another example would be your acquiescing for several
months to the tenant’s breach of the no-pets lease
clause and then serving the tenant with a Three-Day
Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit that says the tenant
must get rid of the pet or leave within three days.
Item 3d might also be checked if the tenant claims
you accepted or agreed to accept rent later than the
notice deadline. (See Chapter 2 for a discussion of the
consequences of accepting rent after serving a three-
day notice, and Chapter 3 regarding acceptance of
rent following service of a 30-day notice terminating a
month-to-month tenancy.)
Item 3e: Retaliation
This alleges that your true reason for serving a notice—
usually a 30- or 60-day notice terminating a month-
to-month tenancy—was to retaliate for the tenant’s
exercise of a specified legal right. Retaliation is often
claimed by tenants who have complained to local
government authorities about housing conditions, or
who have attempted to organize your other tenants.
(See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 15.)
Item 3f: Discrimination
This defense refers to discrimination prohibited under
state and federal law. (See The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, Chapter 9, for a
discussion of this complex topic.)
Item 3g: Violation of Rent Control Ordinance
Many rent control ordinances not only limit the amount
of rent you may charge, but also have “just cause
eviction” provisions that limit your freedom to terminate
a month-to-month tenancy. Your tenant can defend the
lawsuit based on your failure to comply with any aspect
of the ordinance, including:
• property registration requirements
• rent limits, or
• special requirements for three-day, 30-day, or 60-
day eviction notices.
Cities that require registration of rents (Berkeley,
Santa Monica, East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Palm Springs,
Thousand Oaks, and West Hollywood) must limit the
sanctions against landlords who are in “substantial
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 147
compliance” with a rent control law and made only
a good-faith mistake in calculating rent or registering
property with the local rent control agency. (Civ. Code
§ 1947.7.) The statute appears to apply only to sanctions
imposed by local rent control agencies, however. You
should still expect to have your Complaint dismissed if it
is based on a three-day notice that demanded an amount
of rent that was illegal under a rent control ordinance.
Item 3h: Acceptance of Rent
If you accepted rent for a period beyond the termination
date in a termination notice, you may have revoked
that notice. For example, if rent is due in advance on
the first of each month, and you gave your tenant a 30-
day notice on June 15, the tenancy terminates on July
15. By accepting a full month’s rent on July 1, however,
you accepted rent for the period through July 31, well
beyond the termination date of the 15th, and you
implicitly revoked the 30-day notice.
In many instances, this defense is identical to the
“waiver and cancellation” defense (Item 3d, above), and
the tenant can check either or both defenses.
Item 3i: Other Affirmative Defenses
Although Items 3a through 3h list the most common
defenses, an imaginative tenant’s attorney may use
Item 3i to describe additional defenses.
(This ability of
tenants’ attorneys to introduce strange theories into the
most mundane case is a large part of the reason we
advise you to consider hiring an attorney if one appears
for the tenant.) As with the listed defenses, the facts
specific to any defense checked here must be listed in
Item 3j, below.
Item 3j: Specific Facts Relating to the Defenses
Under Item 3j on the reverse of the Answer, the tenant
is supposed to explain the affirmative defense boxes
checked. No special language or format is necessary,
and almost any brief, factual statement will do. These
statements are supposed to give you an idea of what
the defendant is going to try to prove at trial. At trial,
the defendant may testify only to subjects he brought
up in the Answer.
Other Things in the Answer
Item 4 on the back of the Answer form has spaces
for miscellaneous “other statements.” If the tenant
has given up possession of the property before filing
his Answer (Item 4a), for instance, the case will be
treated as a regular civil lawsuit. You and the tenant
can then ask for things not allowed in an unlawful
detainer action, but the case won’t get to trial as
fast as an unlawful detainer suit normally would.
(Civ. Code § 1952.3.) An unlawful detainer suit is a
special “summary” (expedited) procedure with shorter
response times, and more restrictions on the issues that
may be raised, than regular suits.
In Item 4b, the tenant can state that the prorated
daily “fair rental value” you alleged is too high (usually
because of a habitability defense).
Defendant’s Requests
In Item 5, the tenant says what he or she wants. Item
5a allows the tenant to request attorney’s fees. This is
proper only if the written rental agreement or lease has
an attorney’s fees clause. Because of the restrictions on
unlawful detainer suits, there is really nothing else the
tenant can properly ask for here.
Finally, Item 5b allows the tenant to ask the court to
order the landlord to make repairs and order the rent
reduced, if the tenant claims breach of the warranty of
habitability as a defense in Item 3a.
Responding to the Answer
If the tenant has simply denied your allegations, not
raised any defenses of his own, and is not represented
by an attorney, you are still on pretty firm ground as far
as going ahead on your own is concerned. The next step
is getting a trial date.
The Request to Set Case for Trial—Unlawful
Detainer
Like almost everything else in the legal system, the trial
on your now-contested unlawful detainer Complaint will
not happen automatically. You have to ask for it in a
form known as a Request to Set Case for Trial.
If the tenant has moved out. If the tenant who has
filed an Answer moves out before you file your
Request to Set Case for Trial, you can still ask the court
to set the case for trial. You would normally do this if you
want to get a judgment against the tenant for rent and court
costs. However, the case becomes a “regular civil action”
148 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
without “preference” (Civ. Code § 1952.3), and you should
not state your case has preference for trial setting. The court
will then set it for trial much more slowly.
To complete this form, type in the information in the
boxes at the top of the form, which ask for your name
and address, the court and its location, the names of
the parties, and the case number, just as you did when
preparing the Complaint.
In the large box below the case-identification
queries, put an X next to the word “REQUEST,” unless
the tenant has already filed a Request to Set Case for
Trial. (If the tenant has requested a jury trial, which
happens rarely, you’ll need to contact an attorney.) If
the tenant has already filed this form, put an X in the
box next to the words “COUNTER-REQUEST.”
Item 1: Put an X in this box. If there is more than
one defendant, and at least one of them has filed an
Answer, but at least one other defendant has not, you
should obtain a default against all defendants who have
not filed an Answer. You’ll be requesting only entry of
a default, not a clerk’s judgment for possession. (Later,
after winning at trial against the defendants who have
filed an Answer, you can ask the judge to order that the
judgment also be against those “defaulted” defendants.)
See Chapter 7 on filling out the Request for Entry of
Default, but don’t check the boxes relevant to obtaining
a Clerk’s Judgment for Possession.
Item 2: List the rental’s address, including the county.
If the tenant is still in possession of the property (that
is, the tenant has not turned over the key or otherwise
unequivocally demonstrated that he’s turned over
possession of the property to you), check box (a). This
should result in your having a trial within 20 days of
filing your Request to Set Case for Trial. On the other
hand, if the tenant has turned over possession of the
property to you, and you still seek a money judgment,
check box (b). In this situation, as we have noted
above, the court will likely set the case for trial much
more slowly than if the tenant were still in possession
of the property.
Item 3: Check the box next to the words “a nonjury
trial.” Do not request a jury trial. Jury trials are procedur-
ally much more complex than trials before judges, and
it is easy to get in way over your head. Also, the party
requesting a jury trial has to deposit jury fees (about
$200/day) with the court in advance. All you want is a
simple trial, lasting no more than a few hours at most,
in front of a judge.
Item 4: The purpose of this item is to give the court
a fair estimate of how long the trial will take. Unless
the tenant has demanded a jury trial (in which case
you should probably see an attorney), check box (b)
and indicate either 1 or 2 hours as an estimate for the
trial length. Your estimated time for trial should be
anywhere from one hour, for a simple case where the
tenant has failed to assert any affirmative defenses, to
two hours in cases involving fairly complicated issues
like alleged rent control violations, discriminatory or
retaliatory evictions, or breach of the warranty to provide
habitable premises.
Item 5: Indicate any dates that you will not be availa-
ble for trial. Remember that the court is required by law
to set a trial date no later than 20 days from the date
you file your Request to Set Case for Trial. If you list
dates when you are unavailable (note that you must
give a reason), the court may have to schedule trial for
more than 20 days from the date you file the Request.
If you are content with this latter prospect, add the
sentence, “Plaintiff waives the requirement under
CCP 1170.5(a) for trial within 20 days of filing of this
document.”
Item 6: In this item, you simply indicate, as you
did in the Complaint and Summons, that an unlawful
detainer assistant “did not” assist you. Then, print your
name and the date, and sign the document.
On the second page, in the box at the top, list your
name after “PLAINTIFF” and the name of the first-
named defendant, followed by “ET AL” if there is more
than one defendant. Do this just as you did the top of
the second and third pages of the Complaint. Also list
the case number.
This second page is a Proof of Service by Mail, which
shows that a person other than you mailed copies of
the form to the tenant who filed the Answer. List the
residence or business address of the person who will
mail the form for you, in Item 2 of this side of the form.
Also, put an X in box 3a. In box 3c (1) and (2), list the
date the copy of your Request to Set Case for Trial will
be mailed, and the name of the city in which it will be
mailed. Just below the words “I declare under penalty
of perjury ... ,” list the date that person will be signing
the proof of service (after he or she mails it). Type that
person’s name in the space at the left below the place
for that date.
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 149
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789 213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
110 N. Grand Street
Same
Los Angeles, Ca 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
A-12345-B
X
X
6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, 90012, Los Angeles County
LOS ANGELES
X
X
X 1
X
September 18, 20xx
Lenny D. Landlord Lenny D. Landlord
150 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL A-12345-B
100 A Street, Los Angeles, CA 90010
X
September 18, 20xx
Los Angeles, CA
September 18, 20xx
Sam D. Server Sam D. Server
Terrence D. Tenant 6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tillie D. Tenant 6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 151
Finally, under the heading of “NAME AND ADDRESS
OF EACH PERSON TO WHOM NOTICE WAS MAILED,”
type the names and addresses of each defendant who
has filed an Answer to the Complaint. Use a separate
set of boxes for each defendant, even if more than one
defendant has filed the same Answer. Also, use the
mailing address the tenant (or his attorney) indicated
in the upper left box in the Answer. Do this even if the
address is different from the tenant’s residence address.
(You do not have to list any defendants who have
not answered, and against whom you will be taking a
default.)
Make two photocopies and have a friend mail one to
the tenant (or his attorney) at the mailing addresses in
the boxes at the end of the form. Have the friend sign
the Proof of Service by Mail, indicating that he mailed
the copy, and take the original and one copy to the
courthouse. The court clerk will file the original and
stamp the copy for your records.
The court will hold on to your Request to Set Case
for Trial for up to five days to give the tenant a chance
to file a Counter-Request to Set. This gives the tenant
the opportunity to also list unavailable dates and
dispute any of the information you listed.
Then the
clerk will set the case for trial on a date no more than
20 days after the date you filed your Memorandum, and
will notify you by mail of the date, time, and place of
the trial.
Summary Judgment
As soon as you’ve served and filed the Memorandum
to Set Case for Trial, you may want to make a pretrial
motion of your own to request a Summary Judgment—
a judgment without an actual trial. To be eligible for a
Summary Judgment, you must convince a judge that
there is no real dispute about the facts in the case—that
is, you and the tenant are only really arguing over
the legal issues. If the judge agrees, she can issue a
judgment on the spot. (C.C.P. § 1170.7.) Not only do
you save the effort of preparing for trial, but it also
allows you to significantly shorten the time you have to
wait to get a judgment and get your tenant out.
This section shows you how to make a Summary
Judgment motion in a rent nonpayment case (Chapter
2), using the form provided in the forms section in the
back of the book. If your eviction is on any ground
other than for nonpayment of rent, you will need the
assistance of an attorney to pursue this remedy.
The
potential variation in the facts makes it impossible to
accurately show you how to draft your papers without
producing what would amount to another book.
You must pay a $100 filing fee to the court clerk when
you file this kind of motion. (This is in addition to the $85
to $95 fee you paid to file the case.) This may well be
worth the price, because if you file this motion quickly
after the tenant files her Answer, you could get the
tenant evicted one to two weeks sooner than if you
waited for the court to set the case for trial. Also, this
motion will save you the time and effort involved in a
trial. Finally, the $100 filing fee for this motion will be
added to the money judgment you will get against the
tenant.
Here is an overview of how a Summary Judgment
proceeding works.
The first step is to obtain a motion hearing date at
least five days away. Then type the motion papers,
which include a Notice of Motion for Summary
Judgment, your declaration under penalty of perjury
stating the basic facts of the case from your perspective,
and a brief legal essay stating why the motion should
be granted. Copies of these papers must be served
on the tenant at least five days before the hearing,
the originals filed with the court, and a motion fee
paid to the clerk. At the hearing, you or your lawyer
appear. You don’t bring witnesses to testify at this stage
because you are only dealing with questions of law, not
questions of fact. The important things have already
been done, including the written declarations and
argument you filed earlier. In most cases, if the tenant
doesn’t respond to your motion with his own written
declaration contradicting yours, the judge is required
to grant the motion, so that you win your case without
trial—and sooner. If you lose the motion, you have not
really lost anything but some time and $100. You will
still be able to present your full case at the trial.
EXAMPLE: Your declaration says that you rented
your property to Terrence and Tillie Tenant, that the
rent was $900 per month due on the first, and that
they didn’t pay on the first of August. It also states
that on August 5, you served them with a three-
day notice and they still didn’t pay or leave. Tillie
and Terrence can defeat your motion by filing their
152 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
own declaration saying that the rent wasn’t $900,
that they paid the rent, that they never received the
notice, or that you failed to repair serious defects in
the property after they notified you of them.
If you decide you want to try to speed up your case
by requesting a Summary Judgment, carefully read the
following instructions.
If you believe that you and your tenant disagree
significantly over the facts, or you are not sure that
a Summary Judgment will work and therefore want to wait
for the trial rather than engage in yet another procedure,
skip to “Other Pretrial Complications,” below.
Our instructions assume that the tenant is not
represented by an attorney. If she is, you will
probably want to consult one and may want to arrange to
be represented. Our instructions do not cover how you
should proceed if an attorney has appeared for the tenant.
Step 1: Select a Date for the Hearing on
Your Motion
First, find out when the court hears motions. Some of
the larger courts hear them on several different days
of the week, while smaller courts have their “law and
motion” day once a week. Call or visit the court clerk
and tell her you’re a plaintiff in an unlawful detainer
case and wish to have a Summary Judgment motion
heard. (You may have to remind the clerk that, unlike
motions in regular cases, Summary Judgment motions
in unlawful detainer cases are heard on just five days’
notice, according to C.C.P. § 1170.7.) Ask what dates
and times are available.
In some counties you can choose a date over the
phone. In others, the clerk won’t schedule your motion
hearing on the court calendar until you file your Notice
of Motion. (See Step 2, below.)
Pick the earliest date that is at least five days after the
day you’ll be able to have the motion papers personally
served on the tenant. If the court has a policy that only
a certain number of cases can be heard at each session,
remind the clerk that the case is an unlawful detainer
case entitled to priority.
Step 2: Prepare the Papers
If you think you’ve already been run through the mill
on the paperwork required to do a “simple” eviction,
it’s time to grit your teeth and prepare for some more.
Even the most simple request to a court, including your
Summary Judgment motion papers, must be submitted
on typed, double-spaced, 8½" x 11" legal pleading paper
with the numbers down the left-hand side. You can
copy the blank sheet of pleading paper in Appendix
3. The papers consist of three parts, which can be
combined into one document. These are:
1. Notice of Motion, which tells the tenant where,
when, and on what legal grounds you’re making
the motion
2. Declaration, in which you and/or someone else
states the pertinent facts under penalty of perjury,
and
3. Memorandum of Points and Authorities (usually
referred to simply as “points and authorities”), a
short legalistic statement that explains why the
facts stated in the declaration legally entitle you
to judgment.
Below are provided instructions and sample completed
forms demonstrating how to draft each of these
documents.
A blank, tear-out version of a Notice of Motion for
Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; and
Points and Authorities are in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM
also includes these items. Instructions for using the CD are
in Appendix 2.
Step 3: Photocopy the Papers
Once you’ve prepared and signed your Summary
Judgment motion papers, make a set of photocopies for
each tenant who has answered the Complaint, plus
one for your files. For instance, if three tenants have
answered the Complaint, you will need at least four
photocopies.
Step 4: Have the Papers Served
Because of the short (five-day) notice given the tenant,
you must have the papers personally served on each
tenant or on another person over 18 at the tenant’s
home.
Unlike service of the Summons, service on an
adult at the tenant’s residence—or on an employee
in the office of the tenant’s attorney, if the tenant is
represented—is sufficient, and the time for the tenant
to respond is not extended by the fact that he did not
receive them personally. (C.C.P. § 1011.)
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 153
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) NOTICE OF MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT;
v. ) PLAINTIFF'S DECLARATION; POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
) (C.C.P. 437C, 1170.7)
)
Defendant(s). ) Hearing Date:
) Time:
) Courtroom:
TO DEFENDANTS
AND THEIR ATTORNEY OF RECORD:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on , , at .M in the above-
entitled Court, at ,
City of , California, the above-named plaintiff
will move the Court for an Order granting summary judgment for possession of the subject premises herein, rent,
damages, and costs in the above-entitled action.
This motion is made on the ground that defendants’ defense has no merit and there exists no triable issue of
fact as to plaintiff’s cause of action, plaintiff having established that defendants are guilty of unlawfully detaining
the subject premises following nonpayment of the rent due, service of a three-day notice to pay rent or quit, and
failure to pay the rent or vacate the premises within the time given in the said notice.
This motion is based on this notice, the declaration of plaintiff attached hereto, the points and authorities
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Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; Points and Authorities
list your mailing address and phone number
list county
case number
your name
defendants’ names
defendants’ names
list court address and city
list division here
list hearing date, time,
and courtroom number
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attached hereto, the pleadings, records, and files herein, and on such argument as may be presented at the
hearing on the motion.
DATED: ,
Plaintiff in Pro Per
DECLARATION OF PLAINTIFF
I, the undersigned, declare:
1. I am the plaintiff in the within action and the owner of the subject premises located at
, City of
, County of , California.
2. On , , defendant(s) rented the premises from me pursuant to
a written/oral agreement. The monthly rent was $ payable in advance on the
day of each month, the reasonable rental value of the premises per day being $ .
3. Pursuant to the agreement, defendant(s) went into possession of the premises.
4. On , , defendant(s) were in default in the payment of rent in
the amount of $ , and I served defendant(s)
with a written notice demanding
that defendant(s) pay that amount or surrender possession of the premises within three days of service of the said
notice. A true copy of that notice is attached to the Complaint herein as Exhibit “B” thereto.
5. Prior to my service of the said three-day notice, defendant(s) had not notified me of any substantial defect
in the premises relating to the tenantability or habitability thereof.
6. Defendant(s) failed to pay the said rent or surrender possession of the said premises within three days of
service of the said notice, whereupon I commenced the instant action, complying with all applicable rent
control and/or eviction protection ordinances. Defendant(s) still remain in possession of the premises.
7. This rent was due for the rental period of , , through
, . After this latter date and to the present, I sustained
damages at the daily reasonable rental value indicated above in paragraph 2, for total damages in the amount of
$ , and total rent and damages in the amount of $ .
Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; Points and Authorities
total unpaid rent in 3-day notice
plus prorated rent
list period covered by rent
demanded in 3-day notice
date defendants served with 3-day notice
monthly rent
date premises rented
list premises’ address, city, and county
your signature
list of names of defendants
date
cross one out
rent due when
3-day notice
served
if applicable, list
total prorated rent
after period; if
none, list zero (0)
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 155
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8. I have incurred service and filing fees in the total amount of $ in the within action.
9. If sworn as a witness, I could testify competently to the facts stated herein.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and
correct.
DATED: ,
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; Points and Authorities
date and sign
list court
costs amount
156 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
you don’t have to fill in
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POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
I. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE COURT.
In an unlawful detainer action a motion for summary judgment may be made on five days’ notice. C.C.P. Sec.
1170.7. The time limits imposed by subdivision (a) of section 437c, as well as the requirement in subdivision (b)
of a separate statement of material facts not in dispute, are not applicable to summary judgment motions in
unlawful detainer actions. C.C.P. Sec. 437c(r).
The “separate statement” requirement for summary judgment motions does not apply to unlawful detainer
actions. C.C.P. Section 437c, subdivision (q), states: “Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply to actions brought
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with section 1159) of Title 3 of Part 3.” The latter refers to the unlawful
detainer statutes, and the requirement for a separate statement of facts is in section 437c(b). Thus, C.C.P. Section
437c(q) expressly states, though by an obscure reference to its own subdivision (b) and to C.C.P. Sections 1159
et seq., that unlawful detainer summary judgment motions do not require a separate statement of facts
contended to be undisputed. While Rule 342, California Rules of Court, is silent on this issue, to construe such
silence as requiring a separate statement of undisputed facts in unlawful detainer summary judgment motions,
notwithstanding C.C.P. Section 437c(q), would allow a rule of court to supersede a statute, which is not
permitted.
In all other respects, the motion is required to be granted on the same terms and conditions as a summary
judgment motion under C.C.P. Sec. 437c, and such a motion must be decided solely on the affidavits or
declarations filed. Ibid, subd. (c).
II. PLAINTIFF HAS ESTABLISHED THE PRIMA FACIE ELEMENTS OF AN UNLAWFUL
DETAINER ACTION FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
Under section 1162(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, a tenant or subtenant is guilty of unlawful detainer
When he continues in possession … after default in the payment of rent … and three days’
notice, in writing requiring its payment, stating the amount which is due, or possession of the
property, shall have been served on him ….
Elements other than default in rent, service of the notice, the expiration of three days without payment, and
the continuance in possession include the existence of a landlord-tenant relationship (
Fredricksen v. McCosker
(1956) 143 Cal. App. 2d 114) and proper contents of the notice (Wilson v. Sadleir (1915) 26 Cal. App. 357, 359).
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Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; Points and Authorities
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 157
date and sign
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Plaintiff’s declaration establishes all these elements, so that plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment.
III. DEFENDANT(S) CANNOT PREVAIL UNDER A DEFENSE OF BREACH OF
THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY.
Under the rule of
Green v. Superior Court (1974) 10 Cal. 3d 616, the California Supreme Court held that in
an unlawful detainer action founded on nonpayment of rent, the tenant could assert as a defense that the
landlord breached an implied warranty to keep the premises habitable. The Court cited with approval the case of
Hinson v. Delis (1972) 26 Cal. App. 3d 62 in this regard. In Hinson, the tenant sued the landlord in a regular
civil action for breach of this implied warranty. After the trial court ruled in favor of the landlord, the Court of
Appeal reversed, holding that there existed such a warranty in the law, as to which, “The tenant must also give
notice of alleged defects to the landlord and allow a reasonable time for repairs to be made.” Hinson at p. 70.
When the Green court held that the warranty of habitability established by the Hinson court could be asserted
by the tenant as a defense to an unlawful detainer action, as well as a basis for suit by the tenant, it did not
modify or remove this requirement of notice by the tenant to the landlord of the alleged defects by which the
tenant seeks to withhold rent. Therefore, the notice requirement also applies where the defense is asserted by the
tenant in an unlawful detainer action.
Plaintiff's declaration establishes that defendant(s) failed to give plaintiff notice of the alleged defects in the
premises. Unless a triable issue of fact exists in this regard, defendant(s) cannot assert this defense, as a matter of
law
.
DATED:
,
Plaintiff in Pro Per
Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment; Plaintiff’s Declaration; Points and Authorities
.
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PROOF OF PERSONAL SERVICE
(C.C.P.§ 1011 (b))
I the undersigned, declare:
I am over the age of 18 years and not a party to the within action.
On , , I served the within Notice of Motion for Summary
Judgment, Declaration of Plaintiff, and Points and Authorities on defendant(s) by delivering true copies thereof to
each such defendant, or other person not less than 18 years of age, at defendants’ residence address of
, City of
, California, between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and
correct.
DATED: ,
Signature
September 5 20xx
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles
September 5 20xx Fred Friend
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 159
As with a Summons, you can’t serve the papers
yourself, but must have a friend or other disinterested
person over 18 do it for you. Since service can be made
on any adult who answers the door at the tenant’s
residence, all the tenants named as defendants can be
served at the same time this way, provided one copy
for each defendant is given to the person answering.
The person serving the papers then fills out the Proof of
Service on the originals, before they are filed with the
court.
The C.C.P. § 1011 Proof of Service deliberately
does not include a place for you to insert the time
of service, because noting time of service when serving
a Motion for Summary Judgment is not necessary. Many
people, however, inappropriately use the Service of
Summons Proof of Service form when serving this motion—
and the Service of Summons form does require you to note
the time of service. Perhaps this explains why some clerks
have come to believe that a Proof of Service must always
include the time of service. If you want to be extra careful,
add the time of service (such as “at 4:56 PM”) right after
the date on our form.
Step 5: File the Papers
Finally, you must file the original motion papers,
including Proof of Service, with the court clerk as soon
as possible after the copies are served on the tenant.
The clerk should file the originals and file-stamp and
return any copies to you. She will also place the motion
hearing “on calendar” (if that wasn’t done when you
called earlier), and ask you to pay a motion fee of $200.
Step 6: Prepare the Proposed Order
and Judgment
While you’re waiting the five or more days until the
hearing, you should prepare a proposed order granting
your motion and a proposed judgment for the judge to
sign. This allows you to hand the judge the necessary
papers to sign right at the hearing if he grants your
motion. If you don’t have the judgment ready for the
judge to sign, a delay of several days might result from
your having to run home, type the papers, bring them
back to court, and get them to the judge for signature.
Once signed, you can take them to the clerk and get
the actual eviction rolling, using the procedures in “The
Writ of Execution and Having the Sheriff or Marshall
Evict,” below.
Instructions and samples for your proposed order
granting the motion and the resulting judgment are
shown below. We show you instructions for both a
typewritten judgment, and a judgment on the optional
statewide Judgment—Unlawful Detainer form. (We
suggest using the typewritten form because the
statewide form doesn’t seem to be intended for use
where the landlord prevails by Summary Judgment
motion.)
Step 7: Prepare the Writ of Execution
Chapter 7 shows how to prepare a Writ of Execution
for possession of the property after getting a default
Judgment for Possession. Chapter 9 shows how to fill
out another Writ of Execution for the money part of the
judgment after the tenant leaves. If you win a Summary
Judgment motion, however, you get both parts of the
judgment—money and possession of property—at the
same time. You need only one Writ of Execution. Refer
to both sets of instructions in Chapters 7 and 9 to fill in
the appropriate information on the Writ of Execution. A
sample is shown below.
Step 8: Argue Your Motion in Court
The evening before the hearing, you should sit down,
try to relax, and review the points stated in your motion
papers. On the day of the hearing, try to get to the
courtroom a little early. At the entrance, there may be
a bulletin board with a list of the cases to be heard that
morning. If your case isn’t listed, check with the clerk.
Try to find out whether or not the tenant has filed
a written response to your motion. The fact that you
didn’t receive a copy of any response in the mail
doesn’t prove anything, because the law seems to
allow the tenant to file a response at any time before
the hearing. If the tenant appears at the hearing, it
won’t hurt to walk up and ask if he filed a response
to your papers. If the answer is “Yes,” ask for a copy.
Also, if you can fight your way through all the attorneys
clustered around the courtroom clerk, ask her to check
the file to see if there’s a response. If there is, ask to
see it. Assuming the judge doesn’t have the file in her
chambers, the clerk will hand it to you. If the tenant
has filed a response to your motion, the papers should
be at the top of the papers in the file, just above your
motion papers. Look for any declaration or affidavit that
contradicts your declaration. If there isn’t one, you will
160 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) ORDER GRANTING MOTION
v. ) FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
)
)
Defendant(s). )
)
Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment came on for hearing in Department of
the above-entitled Court on , , said plaintiff appearing in pro per
and defendant(s) appearing by .
The matter having been argued and submitted,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment for restitution of the premises the
subject of this action, rent and damages in the sum of $ , and costs of suit be, and the
same is, granted.
DATED: ,
Judge of the Superior Court
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list your mailing address and phone number
case numberyour name
defendants’ names
insert defendants’ attorney’s name; if no attor-
ney, type “in pro per” and cross out “by”
leave date and signature lines blank for judge to fill in
fill in amount
list division here
list county
list date and courtroom in which
your hearing will be held
if defendants didn’t appear, insert “not”
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 161
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) ORDER GRANTING MOTION
v. ) FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
)
)
Defendant(s). )
)
Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment came on for hearing in Department of
the above-entitled Court on , , said plaintiff appearing in pro per
and defendant(s) appearing by .
The matter having been argued and submitted,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment for restitution of the premises the
subject of this action, rent and damages in the sum of $ , and costs of suit be, and the
same is, granted.
DATED: ,
Judge of the Superior Court
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LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789
LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES
LENNY D. LANDLORD A-12345-B
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
12
September 9 20xx
not
X
in pro per
1,120.00
162 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) JUDGMENT FOLLOWING GRANTING
v. ) OF MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
)
)
Defendant(s). )
)
The motion of plaintiff for summary judgment having been granted,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that plaintiff have and recover from defendant(s)
possession and restitution of the real property located at
, City of ,
County of , California, rent and damages in the sum of
$ , plus costs of suit in the sum of $ , for the total sum of $ .
DATED: ,
Judge of the Superior Court
list address, city, and county of property
fill in rent/damages
amount and total
amount after adding
costs
list names of defendants
list your mailing address and phone number
case numberyour name
defendants’ names
list division here
list county
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 163
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Name:
Address:
Phone:
Plaintiff in Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF
DIVISION
) Case No.
Plaintiff, )
) JUDGMENT FOLLOWING GRANTING
v. ) OF MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
)
)
Defendant(s). )
)
The motion of plaintiff for summary judgment having been granted,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that plaintiff have and recover from defendant(s)
possession and restitution of the real property located at
, City of ,
County of , California, rent and damages in the sum of
$ , plus costs of suit in the sum of $ , for the total sum of $ .
DATED: ,
Judge of the Superior Court
LENNY D. LANDLORD
12345 Angeleno Street
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-555-6789
LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES
LENNY D. LANDLORD A-12345-B
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
Terrence D. Tenant and Tillie D. Tenant
6789 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
1,120.00 110.00 1,230.00
164 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
X
list your name, address, and phone number
court, county, address, and branch
plaintiff’s and defendants’ names
case number
leave Items 1 and 2 blank everywhere
Plaintiff in Pro Per
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 165
plaintiff’s and defendants’ name(s)
X
case number
X
plaintiff’s name
defendants’ name(s)
X
list complete address of property
check only if you used Prejudgment Claim of
Right to Possession procedure. Ch. 6, Sec. I2
list amounts of past-
due rent demanded
in 3-day notice and/or
holdover (daily pro-
rated) damages, and
total court costs, and
total them
check as appropriate
X
X
Judgment granted pursuant to separate Order Granting Motion for Summary Judgment
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LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 N. Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
CENTRAL DISTRICT/DOWNTOWN BRANCH
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
A-12345-B
X
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 167
LENNY D., LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
X
X Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
X
X 900.00
X
220.00
X
243.00
1,363.00
X Judgment granted pursuant to separate Order Granting
Motion for Summary Judgment.
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LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
X
LOS ANGELES
110 N. Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
LOS ANGELES DIVISION
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, TILLIE D. TENANT
X
X A-12345-B
X
Los Angeles
Lenny D. Landlord
X
Tillie D. Tenant
6879 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Terrence D. Tenant
6879 Angeleno Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sept. 9, 20xx
X
1,120.00
.00
1,120.00
1,120.00
0.00
7.00
1,127.00
0.17
0.00
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 169
LANDLORD V. TENANT A-12345-B
X
August 10, 20xx
X
X
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
170 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
probably win the motion by default. On the other hand,
if the tenant has submitted a declaration, the judge
will most likely have to rule that there is a “triable
issue of fact” presented by the tenant’s papers and that
Summary Judgment is therefore improper. The judge
will not attempt to decide at this time which side’s
statements are true—that’s the trial’s function. The fact
that there is a contradiction is enough to defeat your
motion and necessitate a trial.
When your case is called, step forward. Some judges
prefer to ask questions, but others prefer that the
person bringing the motion (you) start talking first.
If the tenant has not filed a declaration, you should
politely point out to the judge all of the following:
• C.C.P. § 1170.7 requires the judge to grant a
Summary Judgment motion in an unlawful
detainer case on the same basis as in regular civil
cases under § 437c.
• There is no requirement for a “separate statement”
of disputed or undisputed facts, as required in
Summary Judgment motions in regular civil cases.
Subdivision “(r)” of C.C.P. § 437c says this.
• C.C.P. § 437c requires the judge to rule based
only on what the declarations or affidavits of the
parties say, not what the tenant says at the hearing.
• Therefore, if the tenant hasn’t filed a declaration,
your motion should be granted, regardless of
what arguments the tenant advances. The tenant
cannot rely on the statements in his or her Answer,
even if signed under penalty of perjury. (C.C.P.
§ 437c(o)(1).)
Say this in your own words, and don’t be nervous. If
the tenant has filed papers in response to your motion,
be prepared to point out that the tenant’s declaration
doesn’t contradict yours (if this is so), or perhaps even
that the tenant’s papers aren’t in the proper legal form
of a declaration under penalty of perjury (if that’s correct).
If the tenant tries to file the papers right there at the
hearing, and you haven’t received copies, you should
let the judge know and ask to see what the tenant is
filing. You may want to ask the judge to pass your case
for a few minutes while you review the response.
After the tenant or his lawyer has had a chance to
argue his side, the judge will either rule on the motion
or take the matter “under submission.” (In some cases,
the judge will grant a one-week continuance or post-
ponement to a tenant who states a credible defense but
hasn’t come up with a written declaration.) If the judge
denies the motion, you will have to wait until trial to
get a judgment. If the judge grants the motion, present
your proposed order and judgment for him to sign.
Once that’s done, you can have the clerk issue a Writ
of Execution, which is then forwarded to the sheriff to
begin the eviction. (See Chapter 7.)
Other Pretrial Complications
Between the time you file a Memorandum to Set Case
for Trial and the date set for trial, the tenant may file
legal documents requiring action on your part. They
can include the following.
Countermemo to Set/Jury Demand
Many tenants think it is in their interest to demand a
jury trial. They are often right. Not only does this delay
scheduling of the case, but (in certain areas) it sometimes
guarantees an audience more receptive to the tenant’s
arguments and less skeptical than a case-worn judge.
The tenant can ask for a jury trial with a document
called a “jury demand” or in a “counter-memorandum,”
a response to your Memorandum to Set. There is
normally nothing you can do to avoid a jury trial if the
tenant demands it and pays the jury fees in advance.
If a jury trial is demanded, it is wise for you to seek
legal representation. In a jury trial, a complex set
of rules governs what evidence the jury may hear. It’s very
difficult for a nonlawyer to competently deal with these rules.
In a trial before a judge without a jury, things are much
simpler because judges, who know the rules themselves,
just disregard evidence that it is improper for them to
consider.
Discovery Requests
One of the biggest surprises to many nonlawyers about
the legal system is that in all civil cases, including evic-
tion lawsuits, each side has the right to force the other
side to disclose, before trial, any relevant information it
has about the case. Discovery is most often initiated by
lawyers, not by tenants representing themselves, and if
your tenant is represented by a lawyer, you may want
to be, too. This following brief discussion of discovery
techniques is just to give you an overview.
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 171
Depositions
In very rare instances, a tenant’s lawyer may mail you a
document that instructs you to show up at the lawyer’s
office and answer questions under oath about the case at
a “deposition.” The tenant’s lawyer’s questions and your
responses to them are taken down by a court reporter.
Any of your answers can be used against you later at trial.
You must pay the court reporter a fairly hefty fee for a
copy of the transcript, typically about a dollar for each
double-spaced page; if you win the lawsuit, this sum is
recoverable in the judgment as a court cost.
The rules on the types of questions the lawyer is
allowed to ask are fairly complicated. The basic rule is
that you must answer any question that might lead the
tenant’s lawyer to the discovery of relevant evidence.
Your refusal to answer a proper question or to attend a
deposition after proper notification can be punished by
a court-ordered fine, if the other side requests it, or, in
extreme cases, by dismissal of your case.
Interrogatories and Requests for Admissions
Another far more common way the tenant may obtain
relevant information is to mail you questions called
“interrogatories.” They may be typed or may be entered
on a standard form provided by the court clerk. You
are required to answer all interrogatories within ten days
if they’re mailed to you (five days if they are personally
served). As with depositions, the rules about the type
of questions you have to answer are fairly technical,
but basically you have to respond to all questions that
might lead the other side to relevant information.
Requests for Admissions are something like inter-
rogatories, but instead of having to make a possibly
detailed response to a particular question, you have
only to admit or deny statements put to you by the
other side.
Because admission or denial of a key statement can
be used against your position in court, you must be
very careful in answering each request. Your failure to
answer (or to answer on time) is equivalent to admitting
that all the statements are true. This can be extremely
damaging, if not fatal, to your case.
Requests to Produce and/or Inspect
A third discovery device is the Request to Produce and/
or Inspect. This is a written request that you produce
specified documents, books, or other records for
inspection and copying by the other party, on a certain
date and time. The party receiving the notice usually
makes photocopies and mails them, rather than waiting
for the other party or attorney to show up to inspect
the records.
You must respond within five days, and produce the
documents for actual inspection within ten days. Again,
the rules on the type of material that can be requested
this way are technical, but generally any records that
can lead to relevant information can be sought.
If the tenant seeks to have you produce sensitive
or confidential business records that you do not
believe are directly relevant to the proceeding, see a
lawyer.
So far we have assumed that the discovery was
initiated by the tenant. However, you can also use
discovery to obtain information relating to the tenant’s
defense of the case. While this is not normally necessary,
there are always exceptional cases. For example, you
might want the tenant claiming a bogus habitability
defense to admit she didn’t complain to you or anyone
else about the condition of the property until after you
insisted on receiving the rent. Unfortunately, the special
skills involved in properly drafting interrogatories and
requests for admissions and in conducting depositions
are beyond the scope of this book.
If you think you need to utilize discovery to find
out more about the tenant’s defense, consult an
attorney.
Preparing for Trial
Preparing a case for trial and handling the trial itself are
both very difficult subjects to handle in a self-help law
book. Few eviction cases go to trial, but each case has
its own unpredictable twists and turns that can greatly
affect trial preparation and tactics. Simply put, there is
no way for us to guide you step by step through this
process. For this reason, we believe you will probably
elect to bring a lawyer into the case, assuming you are
still doing it yourself, to assist with the preparation for
and conduct of the trial.
Here we provide you with a basic overview of what
needs to be done for and at the trial so that you will
know what to expect and better be able to assist your
lawyer.
172 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
If the tenant filed an Answer to your Complaint,
and the court has set the case for trial but you think
the tenant has moved out and might not show up for
trial, prepare for trial anyway. First, the tenant might
not have actually moved out, and you’re safer waiting
to get a judgment before retaking possession (unless,
of course, you’ve settled the case and the tenant has
returned the keys). Second, unless you and the tenant
have settled the case, you’ll still want to get the money
part of the judgment. Third, if you don’t show up for
trial—and the tenant does—the tenant will win and be
entitled to move back in and to collect costs from you.
What You Have to Prove at Trial
What you must prove at trial obviously depends on
the issues raised in your Complaint and the tenant’s
Answer. For example, the testimony in a case based on
nonpayment of rent where the tenant’s defense is that
you failed to keep the premises habitable will be very
different from that in a case based on termination of a
month-to-month tenancy by 30-day notice where the
tenant denies receiving the notice.
All contested evictions are similar, however, in that
you, the plaintiff, have to do two things in order to win:
First, you have to establish the basic elements of your
case; this means you have to present hard evidence
(usually through documents or live testimony) of the
basic facts that would cause the judge to rule in your
favor if the tenant didn’t present a defense. If you
don’t produce evidence on every essential factual issue
contested by the tenant in his Answer, the tenant can
win the case by pointing this out to the judge right after
you “rest” your case.
This is done by the tenant making
a “motion for judgment” after you have presented your
evidence and closed your case.
The second thing you have to do is provide an
adequate response to any rebuttal or defense the tenant
presents. For example, the tenant may say he didn’t
have to pay the rent because you didn’t fix the leaky
roof, overflowing toilet, or defective water heater. You
should counter with whatever facts relieve you of this
responsibility. This might be that you kept the premises
habitable or that the tenant didn’t tell you about the
defects until well after you began to ask about the late
rent. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights
& Responsibilities, Chapter 11, on the landlord’s duty to
keep the property habitable.)
Elements of Your Case
If the tenant has denied everything in your Complaint,
you will have to prove your case. To give you some
idea of what is required, we set out the legal elements
that must be proved for various types of eviction below.
Also remember that if the tenant has admitted an element,
you don’t have to prove it. For example, if the tenant’s
Answer admits that your allegations in paragraph 9
of the Complaint are true, and you alleged in that
paragraph that the tenant was served with a three-day
notice on a certain date, you don’t have to present
testimony to prove it.
Okay, now find the symbol representing your type of
eviction and review the elements that you will have to
prove.
Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent.
• You, your agent, or the person from whom
you purchased the property (or her agent) rented
the property to the tenant pursuant to an oral or
written agreement.
• The monthly rent was a certain amount.
• The tenant got behind in the rent, so that she
owed a certain amount.
• The tenant was properly served with a Three-Day
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit.
• The notice demanded that the tenant pay the exact
amount of rent due or leave within three days.
• The tenant neither paid the amount demanded
in the notice nor left within three days (plus
any extensions allowed if the third day fell on a
weekend or holiday).
• The tenant is still in possession of the property.
• You have complied with any applicable rent
control or just cause eviction ordinances and
regulations.
Eviction for Termination of Month-to-Month
Tenancy.
• You, your agent, and so on, rented the property
to the tenant.
• The tenancy is month to month, having either
started out that way or having become month to
month after a fixed-term lease expired.
• If a local rent control or eviction ordinance requires
“just cause” for terminating a month-to-month
tenancy, the reason you give for termination is
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 173
true and you’ve complied with all aspects of the
ordinance and any applicable regulations.
• The tenant was served with a written notice
requiring that he leave and giving him at least
30 days to do so if his tenancy lasted less than a
year, and at least 60 days if a year or more.
• The 30-day (or longer) period has expired and
the tenant is still in possession of the property.
Eviction for Violation of Lease/Nuisance/Waste.
• You, your agent, and so on, rented the property
to the tenant.
• The lease or rental agreement contains a valid
clause requiring the tenant to do something (for
example, pay a security deposit installment by a
certain date) or to refrain from doing something
(like having pets or subletting the property),
and the tenant has violated the clause, or the
tenant seriously damaged the property, used it
unlawfully, or created a legal nuisance.
• The tenant was served with a three-day notice
demanding that she vacate the property within
that time, or, if the violation was correctable, that
the tenant correct it within that time.
• The tenant neither vacated the property nor
corrected the problem (if correctable) after the
three days, plus any extensions.
• The tenant is still in possession of the property.
• You have complied with applicable rent control
or just cause eviction ordinances or regulations.
Assessing and Countering the
Tenant’s Defenses
If the tenant raised any affirmative defenses in his
answer, you must be ready to counter them at trial.
As we have emphasized, trying to assess and counter
these defenses can be extremely risky unless you
are experienced in doing so. Even if you otherwise feel
competent to conduct your own trial, you should bring
in a lawyer to help you with this aspect of the case. (See
“Should You Hire an Attorney?” above.)
Habitability Defense
The “habitability defense” is commonly raised in evictions
for nonpayment of rent. If the tenant’s Answer states
that his rent payment was partly or entirely excused
because you kept the property in poor repair, you
should first read Chapter 11 in The California Landlord’s
Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities, on landlords’ duties
to keep rental property in good repair. If in fact you
haven’t properly maintained the property, the tenant
may win the lawsuit. To win, the tenant must prove to
the judge that you “breached” (violated) a “warranty,”
which is implied by law, to provide the tenant with
“habitable” (reasonably livable) premises in exchange
for the rent. You don’t have to prove that you properly
maintained the property; rather, the tenant has to prove
to the judge’s satisfaction that you didn’t make needed
repairs.
To establish that you breached the implied warranty
of habitability, the tenant must prove all of the following:
• You failed to provide one or more of the mini-
mum “tenantability” requirements, including
waterproofing, a working toilet, adequate heating
and electricity, and hot and cold running water.
(Civ. Code § 1941.1.)
• The defects were serious and substantial.
• The tenant or some other person (such as a
health department inspector) notified you (or
your manager) about the defect before you served
the three-day notice to pay rent.
• You failed to make repairs within a reasonable
time.
Once the tenant makes the showing described above,
you must show a valid excuse for allowing the deficiency
to continue. If you can convince the judge that the
problems the tenant is complaining about are either
non-habitability-related (such as old interior paint,
carpets, or drapes) or minor (dripping but working
faucets, cracked windows, and so on.), or that the
tenant didn’t complain until receiving the three-day
notice, you will have knocked one or more holes in the
tenant’s habitability defense.
If the tenant produces evidence showing that you
failed to make required repairs within 60 days after
receiving written notice to do so from a health depart-
ment or other official following an inspection of the
property by that person, the burden shifts to you to
show that you had a good reason for not making the
repair. (See The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights
& Responsibilities, Chapter 11.)
(Civ. Code § 1941.3.)
174 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Other Defenses
Other defenses tenants often raise include:
• discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or children
(see The California Landlord’s Law Book: Rights &
Responsibilities, Chapter 9)
• retaliation for the tenant’s exercise of a legal right
such as complaining to the building inspector
or organizing other tenants (see The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities,
Chapter 15)
• the landlord’s breach of an express promise to
make repairs, or other misconduct, or
• failure to comply with the requirements of a
local rent control ordinance (see The California
Landlord’s Law Book: Rights & Responsibilities,
Chapter 4, and your “home” chapter—either
Chapter 2, 3, 4, or 5—in this volume).
Preparing the Judgment Form
When you go to trial you should have a judgment form
ready for the judge to sign if she rules in your favor.
Below are instructions for filling out a judgment after
trial, on the statewide Judgment—Unlawful Detainer
form, together with a sample. Fill out the items in the
heading and caption boxes, so as to include your name,
address, and telephone number; the court’s name and
location; the names of the parties; and the case number,
as you’ve done many times.
In the box containing the words “JUDGMENT—
UNLAWFUL DETAINER,” put an X in the boxes next
to the words “By Court” and “After Court Trial.” If no
defendant appeared at trial, also put an X in the box
next to the words “Defendant Did Not Appear at Trial.”
Item 1: Leave this item blank.
Item 2: Put an X in this box. In 2a, list the date and
time that trial occurred, together with the judge’s name.
In Item 2b, put an X next to the word “Plaintiff” and
list your name. If any defendants showed up for trial,
put an X next to “Defendant” and list the name of
each defendant who appeared at trial. If any defendant
appeared with an attorney, check the box next to
“Defendant’s attorney” and list his or her name on the
right. If no defendant appeared at trial, put an X in Item
2c next to the words “defendant did not appear at trial.”
Do not check box 2d unless anyone requested that the
judge give a “statement of decision” before the judge
pronounced judgment. (This is extremely rare.)
Turn the form over and list your and the defendants’
names, and the case number, in the spaces at the top of
the reverse side of the form.
Item 3: Put an X here and list your name and the
names of all defendants.
Item 4: Put an X next to Plaintiff and list the
complete rental property address.
Item 5: Do not put an X in this box unless you
previously served a Prejudgment Claim of Right to
Possession.
Items 6 and 6a: Put Xs in boxes 6 and 6a. In
nonpayment or rent cases, put an X in box 6a(1) and
list the past-due rent demanded in the three-day notice
and in Item 10 and 17c of the Complaint. In cases not
involving failure to pay rent, such as a termination
of month-to-month tenancy based on a 30-day or
60-day notice, do not check box 6a(1) or fill in an
amount. In all cases, put an X in box 6a(2) “holdover
damages” and list the amount obtained by multiplying
the daily rental value (requested in Complaint Item
11) by the number of days between the date indicated
in Complaint Item 17f and the date to and including
the trial. Leave box 6a(3) blank. Check box 6a(4)
and indicate the amount of court costs. Do not fill in
anything in (5)—we don’t think any sums other than
those in (1) through (4) can be awarded in an unlawful
detainer action. (For the same reason, leave Item 8
blank.) Finally, add up the amounts and put that total
in Item 6a(6).
Item 6c: Put an X next to the “rental agreement is
canceled” box if the tenancy was month to month. Put
an X next to the “lease is forfeited” box if the tenant
had a fixed-term lease and he or she breached it by
nonpayment of rent or another violation of the rental
agreement.
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 175
to be checked by
hand, if defendant
doesn’t appear
list your mailing address and phone number
case number
list date and time of trial
court, county, address, branch name
plaintiff’s and defendants’ names
X
X
X
list name of judge or commissioner who heard case
X
list your name
list name(s) of defendant(s)
who appear at trial
to be checked by
hand, if defendants
do appear at trial
check and list name(s) of
any attorney(s) representing
any defendant
to be checked by hand, if
defendant doesn’t appear
176 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
list complete address of the property
list all defendants’ names, even those, if any, who defaulted
list plaintiffs’ names(s)
plaintiff’s and defendants’ names case number
check only if you used the optional prejudgment
claim procedure in Ch. 6
check as applicable for eviction based on nonpayment or other breach
list and check ap-
plicable past-due rent
demanded in three-
day notice and/or
holdover (prorated
daily) damages, and
court costs, and total
them
X
X
X
X
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 177
LENNY D. LANDLORD
1234 ANGELENO STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90010
213-555-6789
Plaintiff in Pro Per
LOS ANGELES
110 N. Grand Avenue
Same
Los Angeles, CA 90012
LOS ANGELES DIVISION
LENNY D. LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
X
September 20, 20xx
Julia Judge
X
Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant,
Tillie D. Tenant
X
X
X
178 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
LENNY D., LANDLORD
TERRENCE D. TENANT, ET AL
A-12345-B
X
X Lenny D. Landlord
Terrence D. Tenant, Tillie D. Tenant
X
6789 Angel Street, Apt. 10, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
X
X
900.00
X
220.00
X
110.00
1,230.00
X
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 179
Preparing the Judgment When You’ve
Partially Won—Or Lost
Customarily, the party who wins prepares the judg-
ment. The instructions above are based on the
assumption that you, the landlord, will win the case
after trial—something that happens in the great
majority of contested cases. But if the judge allows
the tenant to stay and pay reduced rent because you
breached the warranty of habitability, even though
you’re not a clear victor, you’ll still need to fill out
the judgment form. And if, heaven forbid, you lose
outright, you may still be asked by the judge to
prepare the judgment. In either event, here are a few
pointers:
Partial victory for the tenant
on the issue of
breach of warranty of habitability. Suppose the tenant
claimed he owed none of the $1,000 monthly rent
because of a leaky roof, but the judge said he owed
$500 and could stay if he pays that reduced amount
within five days. Fill out the form as instructed above,
but check Item 7 (“Conditional Judgment”). You’ll
have to fill out another form, Judgment—Unlawful
Detainer Attachment, and attach it to the Judgment
form. We include a blank form of this type in
Appendix 3, but we hope you won’t have to use it.
Total victory for the tenant. If the tenant prevails,
check Item 3d, and in Item 4, check the box next to
“defendant.” Leave Item 6a blank, and check Item 6b
(“plaintiff is to recover nothing from defendant ....”).
A blank, tear-out version of the Judgment After Trial
is in Appendix 3. The CD-ROM also includes this
form. Instructions for using the CD are in Appendix 2.
The Trial
As the plaintiff, you have the burden of proving to the
judge (or jury if it’s a jury trial) that you are entitled
to the relief requested in your Complaint. You present
your case first.
Much of your case will consist of two types of
evidence: your testimony, and documents that you offer
to prove one or more of your points. In addition, you
may want to bring in witnesses.
Once you have met your “burden of proof,” it is the
tenant’s turn. To defeat your case the tenant must offer
testimony and/or documents to:
• convince the judge (the jury, if it’s a jury trial) that
your proof on one or more issues was wrong or
deficient, or
• prove that one of her affirmative defenses is valid.
After the tenant has put on her case, you will have
an opportunity to rebut the tenant’s case. After your
rebuttal, both you and the tenant can summarize your
cases. The case is then submitted to the judge or jury
for its verdict. If you win, you will be entitled to evict
the tenant unless the tenant appeals the verdict and
obtains a stay of the eviction pending the appeal. Also,
it is possible for the tenant to request a new trial and
an order barring the eviction because of hardship.
Now let’s take a minute to go into a little more detail
on the procedures outlined above.
Don’t Send Your Manager to Court
If you handle your case yourself, without an
attorney, don’t make the mistake of sending your
manager or other agent to court when your case
is heard. Although a manager or agent can appear
in court to testify, the plaintiff (the property owner)
who represents himself must appear at trial to
present the case. If the owner who represents
himself does not appear at trial, and sends a
manager or other agent instead, the judge may
refuse to proceed further.
If you have an attorney, the attorney may appear
on your behalf, although a judge has the authority
to demand your presence.
The Clerk Calls the Case
The trial begins when the clerk calls your case by name,
usually by calling out the last name of the parties (for
example, in the case of Lenny D. Landlord v. Terrence
and Tillie Tenant, “Landlord v. Tenant”). As mentioned,
since you’re the plaintiff, you present your case first,
when the judge asks you to begin.
180 THE CALIFORNIA LANDLORD’S LAW BOOK: EVICTIONS
Last-Minute Motions
Before you begin your case, the tenant may make
a last-minute motion, perhaps for a continuance or
postponement of the trial, or to disqualify the judge.
A
party to a lawsuit is allowed to disqualify one judge—
sometimes even at the last minute—simply by filing a
declaration under penalty of perjury that states a belief
that the judge is prejudiced. (C.C.P. § 170.6.) Unlawful
detainer defendants frequently use this procedure to
disqualify judges notoriously unsympathetic to tenants’
defenses or sometimes just to delay things. Landlords
rarely use this procedure, even against somewhat pro-
tenant judges, due to their desire to get the trial moving.
It isn’t too likely that the judge will agree to postpone
the trial. If the tenant disqualifies the judge, however,
the case must be transferred to another judge or post-
poned if no other judge is available.
Another frequent last-minute motion is one to
“exclude witnesses.” If you or the tenant so requests,
witnesses (but not parties) will be required to leave the
courtroom until it’s their turn to testify. This prevents
witnesses from patterning their testimony after other
witnesses on their side they see testify. If you are your
only witness and the tenant comes in with a string of
friends to testify to what a slumlord you are, you can
at least minimize the damage by insisting that each be
kept out while the others testify. Remember, however,
that a motion to exclude works both ways. If you
ask the judge to exclude the tenant’s witnesses, your
witnesses must also wait in the corridor.
Opening Statements
Both you and the tenant have a right to make an
opening statement at the start of the trial. Chances are
that the judge has heard many cases like yours, so that
an opening statement would be a fruitless exercise. If
you do make a statement, keep it very brief. Say what
you’re going to prove, but don’t start proving it, and
above all, don’t argue all the points. Here’s what an
opening statement in a nonpayment of rent case might
sound like:
The Courtroom
Unlawful detainer trials are conducted in courtrooms
that look much like those on television. In addition
to the judge, a clerk and bailiff are normally present.
They sit at tables immediately in front of the judge’s
elevated bench, or slightly off to the side. The clerk’s
job is to keep the judge supplied with the necessary
files and papers and to make sure that the proceedings
flow smoothly. A clerk is not the same as a court
reporter, who keeps a word-by-word record of the
proceedings. In courtrooms where eviction cases are
heard, a reporter is not present unless either party
insists on (and pays for) one. The bailiff, usually a
uniformed deputy sheriff or marshal, is present to
keep order.
Courtrooms are divided about two-thirds of the
way toward the front by a sort of fence known as
“the bar.” The judge, court personnel, and lawyers
use the area on one side of the bar, and the public,
including parties and witnesses waiting to be called,
sits on the other side. You’re invited to cross the bar
only when your case is called by the clerk, and any
witnesses you have may do so only when you call
them to testify. You then come forward and sit at the
long table (the one closest to the empty jury box)
known as the “counsel table,” facing the judge.
“Your Honor, this is an unlawful detainer action
based on nonpayment of rent. Mr. Tenant’s Answer
admits the fact of the lease, and that the monthly
rent is $550, due on the first of the month, but denies
everything else. I will testify to my receipt of previous
rents, so that the balance due the day the three-day
notice was served was $550. I will also testify that I
served the three-day notice to pay rent or quit on Mr.
Tenant, who was never home or at work when I went
there, by posting a copy of it on the door and mailing
a second copy to his home, and that later when I called
him he admitted having received it. Finally, I will testify
that he didn’t pay the rent within three days after that,
and, of course, is still in possession.”
CHAPTER 8: CONTESTED CASES 181
Presenting Your Case
There are two ways you can offer testimony to prove
the disputed elements of your case. The most common
is to testify yourself.
As you may know from old Perry Mason episodes,
parties to lawsuits usually testify in response to questions
posed by their own lawyer. This is called “direct examina-
tion” (as opposed to “cross-examination,” when the
other side asks you questions). If you represent yourself
this is done by simply recounting the relevant facts.
Your testimony should be very much like that you
would give at a default hearing. (See Chapter 7.) If
the tenant’s Answer admits certain of your allegations,
such as the basic terms of the tenancy or service of the
three-day or other termination notice, you can leave
that part out, having noted in your opening remarks
that it’s not disputed.
After you’ve finished testifying, the tenant or her
lawyer may cross-examine you. The general rule is that
you, like any other witness, can be cross-examined on
anything relating to your testimony on direct examination.
You should respond courteously, truthfully, and as
briefly as possible. Contrary to popular myth, you don’t
have to give a “yes” or “no” answer to any question for
which it would be inappropriate. You have a right to
explain and expand on your answer in detail if you feel
it’s necessary. For example, the question, “Have you
stopped pocketing security deposits?” is best answered
by, “I have never ‘pocketed’ a deposit,” rather than by
“yes” or “no.”
Don’t appear hostile toward the person doing the
cross-examining; it could hurt your case. If you have a
lawyer, he has the right to object to any question that
is abusive or irrelevant. If you are representing yourself
and consider a question to be particularly awful, ask
the judge if you have to answer it.
EXAMPLE: After you’ve finished testifying, the tenant
begins cross-examining you with, “Ms. Landlord,
didn’t you remember my telling you I couldn’t pay
the rent because I lost my job?” Since the issue of
the tenant’s hardship isn’t a legal defense to failure
to pay rent, it’s legally irrelevant, and your lawyer
should say, “Your Honor, I object to this question
as irrelevant.” The judge should “sustain” this
objection, meaning you don’t have to answer.
If the case is tried by a judge, objections on the
ground of relevancy are often overruled by the judge,
who figures her training equips her to sort out the
wheat from the chaff when decision time comes around.
This discrepancy between legal rules and the real world
is one example among thousands of why doing your
own trial is not advised.
Another way to prove part or all of the disputed
elements of your case is by questioning the tenant at
the start. The law allows you to call the defendant as
a witness before you or any of your own witnesses
testify. (Evid. Code § 776.)
Handled properly, the tenant will testify truthfully,
if reluctantly, so as to establish most or all of the basic
elements of your lawsuit, even if he denied these
elements in the answer. Here’s an example of such an
exchange:
Landlord: Mr. Tenant, you rented the premises at 123
State Street, Los Angeles, from me, didn’t
you?
Tenant: Yes.
Landlord: And that was in March 20xx, correct?
Tenant: Yes.
Landlord: I’d like to show you a copy of this document
entitled “Rental Agreement,” attached as
Exhibit “A” to the Complaint. This is your
signature here at the bottom, isn’t it?
Tenant: Well … ah.
Landlord: You paid the monthly rent of $550 until
August 20xx, didn’t you?
Tenant: Well, yeah, but in July I got laid off, and …
Landlord: Please just answer the question, Mr.
Tenant.
Tenant: Yeah.
Landlord: And you didn’t pay the $550 rent in
August 20xx, did you?
Tenant: Well, no.
Landlord: And I’d like to show you a copy of this
document entitled “Three-Day Notice to
Pay Rent or Quit” attached as Exhibit “B”
to the Complaint. You told me on August 5
when I phoned you that you received the
notice, didn’t you?
Tenant: Yeah.
Landlord: And you, in fact, did receive it, correct?
Tenant: Yes.
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