Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: Can i evict them?

it appears the building may be in Los Angeles which does have rent control. You need to get a complete copy of the ordiance and any amendments and rent board rules and carefully read through it. In many rent control cities they also have good cause eviction rules which basically say you can only evict for failure to pay rent and murder. Remember under state law you now must give long term tenants [lived there a year or more] 60 days notice for eviction.

Re: Can i evict them?

Are you serious? No, none of what they have said is true. First, give them a 30 day notice of a rent increase - take it to whatever is fair market value for your area. Do consult with an attorney (as I will discuss below) as you appear to be in Los Angeles, and there are some interesting rules regarding rentals in LA. Second, hire an attorney, have the attorney prepare and properly serve them with a sixty day notice to terminate their tenancy. When they don't move at the end of sixty days, the attorney will file an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit, and have them legally removed from the property. While you may be reticent to get rid of them, consider this - how much below market is your rent, and how much value have they taken away from your building by treating it like trash? A few months to fix and relet the apartment is well worth the investment in terms of the rent you will get from a new, more respectful tenant. As the landlord, you are driving the bus - don't let them bully you around. You hold the ultimate hammer since they have refused to sign a lease - you can get rid of them with a sixty day notice WITH NO REASON AT ALL! Email me off the list - I'd be happy to help you get rid of these leaches.

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