Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: real estate law

Sometimes you can negotiate payment of "key money," possibly as much as $500 depending on your negotiating skills, in exchange for your leaving their house in reasonably good condition and without putting up a fight. This is because you can probably delay your eviction for up to a few months if you are creative about it. Google for [california tenant law].

Re: real estate law

Delaying an eviction for a few months would probably require filing for bankruptcy, which I really don't recommend. Ignoring the 5-day notice will get you served with an unlawful detainer complaint; a token answer will oblige a trial date be set, and after the owner wins, it will be a few more days before he gets a valid writ of possession and the sheriff can act. I'd say a well-managed stalling program should gain you about 18 days, but you will need to bone up on UD law and procedure and the tenants' rights Web sites are a good place to begin.

Also note that the owner's UD judgment against you will reimburse him certain costs and you will be liable for daily rental, so it isn't a free ride. Plus the judgment will show up on your credit report.