Grass Valley Unlawful Detainer/Eviction Attorneys

In the state of California, landlords can only evict tenants under certain circumstances. The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 requires you to have a legitimate reason, or “just cause,” to evict a tenant who has lived in a rental unit for at least 12 months. Note that this law does not apply to rental units built less than 15 years ago, single-family homes owned by an individual, or certain types of low-income housing.

In most cases, you will need to provide one of the following notices before you can move to evict with just cause:

• Three-Day Notice for Failure to Pay Rent. Your tenants must pay the agreed-upon rent on the date specified in their rental agreement. If a tenant does not pay rent, you can deliver this notice. If your tenant still does not pay rent (plus any reasonable late fees) after three days, you can start the eviction process. You cannot evict a tenant on these grounds if the tenant pays what they owe during this three-day window.
• Three-Day Notice to Cure. When you discover a tenant has violated some condition of their rental agreement, you can give a notice that explains the violation and gives them an opportunity to “cure” (or fix) the problem. If the tenant corrects the problem within three days of receiving the notice, you cannot proceed with an eviction. If the tenant fails to address the problem during that time, you can begin the eviction process.
• Three-Day Unconditional Quit Notice. Some types of serious violations allow you to order the tenant to move out or face eviction. You can serve an unconditional quit notice to a tenant who violates the rental agreement by assigning or subletting the unit, substantially damaging the unit, participating in unlawful activity at the unit, or creating (or allowing) a nuisance at the unit. If the tenant does not vacate after three days of receiving this notice, you can move forward with an eviction.

If your rental unit is not subject to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, you can potentially end a tenancy without cause. If the rental agreement is month-to-month, you must give at least a 30-day notice to a tenant who has lived in a unit for less than a year or a 60-day notice to a tenant who has lived in a unit for a year or more. 

When a rental agreement has a fixed term, you cannot prematurely end the tenancy without just cause. However, you do not need to provide notice to vacate at the end of the term unless the rental agreement specifically requires it.

You must be cautious when preparing to evict a tenant. An eviction may not be valid if you do not follow all applicable rules. Our unlawful detainer/eviction attorneys can help you determine whether you have a right to pursue an eviction and what steps you must take before a lawsuit can be filed.