Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

I am a tenant in Orange County who performed 3,500 hours of labor restoring the cottage in which I reside. The owner and I do NOT have any written agreements (though I've resided here 2 1/2 yrs) Now she's refusing to pay me for the work and intends to sell the house out from under me. What are my rights and possibilities of recovering my losses? I have detailed work records and 700 pictures verifying ALL work done, as the owner DID pay for all the materials. Originally, she "guaranteed" me five years in the residence, and now "doesn't remember" promising to pay me OR that I would have five years in residence.

Thank you for your assistance.


Asked on 3/31/13, 6:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

If you are not a licensed contractor, you are out of luck. Performing construction work worth more than $500 without a license not only entitles the property owner not to pay you, they would be entitled to sue you to take back anything they had paid you, not to mention it is a crime.

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Answered on 3/31/13, 10:26 pm


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