I am a renter in Los Angeles, CA.
I recently signed a lease and gave a security deposit for an apartment. I got a call a few days ago from the apartment manager/landlord saying that I cannot move in on my expected move-in date because the current tenant refuses to leave. She gave 30 days notice over a month ago, but is now claiming that she cannot find a new place and as a result, will not leave. Now, the landlord cannot get a hold of her at all. As a result of her selfishness, I am currently "homeless" as I have already given a 30 day notice to my own current landlord. (as a result, I have to find temporary housing, keep all of my belongings in storage, which is an inconvenience I cannot even begin to describe to you, move TWICE, and deal with outlandish commutes to get to work
The landlord is currently taking action against her. He served her with a 3-day notice and will move on to the eviction process for an unlawful detainer if she refuses to leave by the end of the 3-day period. I realize that if the situation moves on to eviction, it could take anywhere from a month to 6 months to get this woman out (although I doubt she knows what is going on and won't even respond to the court order before her 5 days are up, meaning it will take a month.) In the meantime, I have to be patient and suffer the burden. But I really, really want to move in to this place. The price is right and the location is right, and in Los Angeles, this combination is extremely hard to come by. I want to fight for this.
I want to cooperate with the landlord because I think we ultimately need each other and I want to maintain a positive relationship. However, I do want to help push this tenant out with whatever legal power I have over her. Is she liable to me for damages? She is technically refusing to leave my apartment (I have a lease now and her lease has been terminated at her own request.) She should be liable for the stress and financial burden that her actions are creating.
So my question is, how would I go about exercising my rights over her? What are my rights in the first place? Does she owe me anything, and if so, how do I get it or at least threaten her with the possibility of getting it so that she realizes she's in way over her head and gets the hell out of my apartment? I want her to know that she's not just dealing with the landlord--she has to answer to me too.
Thanks!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I recently signed a lease and gave a security deposit for an apartment. I got a call a few days ago from the apartment manager/landlord saying that I cannot move in on my expected move-in date because the current tenant refuses to leave. She gave 30 days notice over a month ago, but is now claiming that she cannot find a new place and as a result, will not leave. Now, the landlord cannot get a hold of her at all. As a result of her selfishness, I am currently "homeless" as I have already given a 30 day notice to my own current landlord. (as a result, I have to find temporary housing, keep all of my belongings in storage, which is an inconvenience I cannot even begin to describe to you, move TWICE, and deal with outlandish commutes to get to work
The landlord is currently taking action against her. He served her with a 3-day notice and will move on to the eviction process for an unlawful detainer if she refuses to leave by the end of the 3-day period. I realize that if the situation moves on to eviction, it could take anywhere from a month to 6 months to get this woman out (although I doubt she knows what is going on and won't even respond to the court order before her 5 days are up, meaning it will take a month.) In the meantime, I have to be patient and suffer the burden. But I really, really want to move in to this place. The price is right and the location is right, and in Los Angeles, this combination is extremely hard to come by. I want to fight for this.
I want to cooperate with the landlord because I think we ultimately need each other and I want to maintain a positive relationship. However, I do want to help push this tenant out with whatever legal power I have over her. Is she liable to me for damages? She is technically refusing to leave my apartment (I have a lease now and her lease has been terminated at her own request.) She should be liable for the stress and financial burden that her actions are creating.
So my question is, how would I go about exercising my rights over her? What are my rights in the first place? Does she owe me anything, and if so, how do I get it or at least threaten her with the possibility of getting it so that she realizes she's in way over her head and gets the hell out of my apartment? I want her to know that she's not just dealing with the landlord--she has to answer to me too.
Thanks!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?