Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

New bldg owner/new payment method/short notice

My building recently sold and changed owners/management companies. Under the old management company tenants were to drop off rent checks in a drop box onsite. Under the new management tenants are to mail rent checks to the company. The building was sold over Christmas break. Prior to leaving for the holidays I paid my rent for January by putting my check in the drop box. During the 2 weeks I was away a notice from the new landlord was dropped off stating that they'd bought the building (we didn't even know it was up for sale). It provided new instructions about how to pay rent. Rent is due on the 1st and I did not come back until after the new year. At that point the new company said they considered my rent late since I had not followed the new instructions. Was this an adequate notice? My lease says 30 days notice is required for changes. Does that just mean issues like how much you have to pay requires 30 days, or does that 30 day notification also cover issues like who you have to pay and how you have to pay them.


Asked on 3/09/06, 1:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Philip Iadevaia Law Offices of Philip A. Iadevaia

Re: New bldg owner/new payment method/short notice

The landlord's notice is not proper. Any change in terms, including where rent is paid, must be proceeded by a 30 day notice. Your LL failed to do that, and this situation is precisely what happens when insufficient notice is given. Your rent is not late, and if the LL makes a big deal of it, contact an attorney. Good Luck.

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Answered on 3/09/06, 3:38 pm


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