proper service of notice in San Francisco/master vs sub-tenant

[mike11111_]

I'm a master tenant in San Francisco and my sub-tenant has not paid his this month's (Dec) rent and the gas/electrical bill so far. I'm going to give him a 3 day to pay or move out notice. If I serve him the notice personally, what if he refuses to take it? what can I do? Is it legal for me to serve him the notice myself? and do I need him to sign on the notice in order to make this notice legally effective? What else I need to have on the notice? Also he's been gone since Dec 22, the Friday before Christmas weekend, and has not been back yet so far and I have no idea where he went. If he still won't be back for the next week or longer, is there any action I should/can take? Thanks!

 

[HomeGuru]

If you want to be a landlord then you must familarize yourself with the CA L/T laws. You can find such laws under the State Statutes CA Civil Code.

 

[Qtiem1]

I agree w/the Guru but...

Due to the fact that my landlords have never given proper service with any of their notices, I have read the handbook called "California Tenants - A guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Respnsibilities" which you can get for a $1 or $2 donation from your local office for The California Department of Fair Housing. Thus, the answer to you question is as follows:
You have 3 options on how you may serve the tenant with a notice.
1. Personally serve the notice. *you must hand the notice to the tenant
2. You may post the notice and mail a copy (preferably via certified mail)
3. I don't agree with this option so I won't bother telling you about it.
Good luck!
jeannie