Full question:
How can you break a renters lease sooner than 30 days?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Lease Termination
- Date:
- State: California
Answer:
In California, a landlord can end a tenancy with a three-day written notice if the tenant has:
- Failed to pay rent.
- Violated the lease or rental agreement.
- Materially damaged the property.
- Substantially interfered with other tenants.
- Used the property unlawfully.
If the notice is for unpaid rent, it must specify the amount due and include:
- The name, address, and phone number of the person to whom rent should be paid.
- The days and hours for in-person payment, if applicable.
- The address for mailing rent if personal delivery isn’t accepted.
- The name and address of the financial institution for payment, if within five miles of the unit.
Payments can also be made electronically if previously arranged. A landlord cannot require cash for past-due rent.
If the notice is based on other violations, it must describe the tenant's misconduct. The notice can either require the tenant to correct the violation or simply vacate the premises.
For correctable violations, the tenant must be given the chance to fix the issue. If the tenant pays the overdue rent or corrects the violation during the three-day notice period, the lease remains in effect. However, if payment is made after the notice period, the landlord can choose to either evict the tenant or accept the payment, which waives the right to evict for that late payment.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.