Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

First, it would appear that you have a month-to-month, oral rental agreement. The terms are somewhat vague as a result of the utilities issue, so I would stick with his only owing you rent. Yes, he must give 30 days notice. By failing to do so, you have the right to deduct from his deposit any unpaid rent through the last day of 30 days from the date he first gave notice of moving. You have 21 days to return his deposit in full, or provide an accounting for the use of the deposit. Be sure he gives you a valid forwarding address - tell him if he doesn't you'll have to mail the deposit to the current house, and if it doesn't get forwarded, it's not your problem. As for the paint, if you agreed to it, then he doesn't have to repaint it. If you did not authorize it, then you can hire someone to paint it back and withhold from his deposit the cost of hiring someone.

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