Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Return keys to surrender property?

I live in California, and I'm having a dispute with my landlord regarding the termination of my lease. In a nutshell, he claims that because we didn't turn in the keys (we know we should have, but our building manager never told us to and it slipped our minds) until 10 days after the termination of our lease, they can still charge us for rent for those 10 days. I can't find any answers, so I'm wondering: Is turning in the keys to my apartment necessary to surrender the property, and thereby terminate my lease? Am I required to pay for the days beyond the termination of my lease?


Asked on 8/29/06, 4:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
J. Spikes Property Law Center

Re: Return keys to surrender property?

Turning over the keyes is neither legally required nor necessarily sufficient to terminate a lease, but if your contract with the landlord (the lease) states that that is how you are to surrender the premises, then you are bound by that contract.

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Answered on 8/29/06, 7:13 pm


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