Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

First, the late fees are almost certainly excessive. The initial $35 is probably okay, depending on the amount of the rent, however, $25 a day is excessive without much question. As to whether or not you should have been charged the late fees, you always had the option of paying the rent in whatever manner the lease specified (I assume the lease indicated that the rent should be paid to the landlord or her management company). If you did not have a written lease, then you may be able to avoid the late fees on the basis that you were following the landlord's oral instructions. If, however, you have a written lease which provides for how and/or where rent was to be paid, it's going to be hard to fight paying a reasonable late fee.

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