Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Once you sign there is a valid, enforceable contract. There is no grace period. Whether the landlord can keep any portion of the deposit depends upon what the money is designated for. All security deposits are fully refundable if no rent is due or damages done. Payment of a sum to hold the unit open for you [reservation] is fuly non-refundable, as the landlord has completed his duty to have the unit available to you to rent. As to most other charges, legally the landlord must mitigate his damages by trying to rent out the unit ASAP, so you are only liable for the period of time from when you would have moved in and started paying rent and when he gets another tenant in.