Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

In California, a contract for the leasing of property does not have to be in writing. Most month to month rental are verbal. I would have to know the exact discussion you had with the landlord, but in general you would have to give thirty days notice of non-renewal of the lease and would have to pay rent for that period of time less any rent collected from a new renter who moves in within that 30 day period of time. I do not understand what "rental damages" are and you are not liable for the cost of returning the unit to the rental market, but those two figures may be less than the amount of rent they are entitled to, so it may be to your advantage toaccept the charges. Ask them to inform you when the unit is rented to see which method costs you the least. They must inform you in writing within 21 days of your giving up possession what amount of the security deposit they are keeping and why and return the rest to you or they waive their right to the money.