Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Once the sheriff removes the occupants, the landlord will change the locks immediately. Still, under the law, the occupants have the opportunity to retrieve personal property left behind if, within 18 days, the tenant or other occupant gives written notice and then makes arrangements to retrieve it. There might be a charge for storage. See Civil Code section 1965 and the sections that follow.

Yes. In fact, the sheriff usually instructs the landlord to have a lock smith ready.