Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

I live in California and recently moved out of an apartment on a private residence. It's a free standing structure not connected to landlord's house. I lost one of the two front door keys and the landlord wants me to pay for a replacement lock. I signed a rental binder & deposit receipt which states two keys were given to me but does not say anything else about lost or unreturned keys. Can she legally require me to replace lock?


Asked on 8/30/16, 10:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Yes. If there is a key floating around that you cannot return, it's no different than damage to the unit. The landlord can charge the cost to remedy the situation, which means changing or re-keying the lock, whichever is cheaper for the lock in question.

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Answered on 8/30/16, 10:51 pm


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