Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: keg fine

The landlord would generally not have the right to enter into a private backyard, if in fact that backyard is a part of your "exclusive use" area under your lease. Since you say you have not signed a lease, but previous tenants did have one, you are probably bound to a degree by their rights and obligations under the lease. In fact, by having simply "assumed" the rent, there is an argument to be made that you are an illegal sub-tenant and subject to eviction. Ignoring that, the issue of the keg is one that I would simply go to the manager and explain. You need to discuss with him why it was there, and then straighten out the issue with the lease. Its important that you understand that while the landlord may have been wrong in entering the yard (and I say maybe because without reviewing the old lease, I can't say that for sure), you are clearly in the wrong having not signed a new lease, and by having the keg there, even if it was for some other purpose. Grovel if you must, but you need to clear this up face-to-face with the landlord.

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