squatters rights?

[coodove]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? California

My sister moved out of state and we took over her rental. She told her landlords that we were housesitting to avoid any problems or upping the rent.

Now the landlords say she abandoned the property and they want us out by next weekend! We have gone to a lot of expense in cleaning, painting, getting utilities on in our name and moving our furniture. We have paid the rent on time each month. I've tried to talk to the landlord but he refuses to talk to me except via e-mails.

What are our legal rights? Can they have us removed for trespassing?

 

[JETX]

What are our legal rights?

Depends. Have YOU been making the rent payments directly to the landlord (in YOUR name)??
If so, then the landlord accepting those payments very likely acknowledged your tenancy and MIGHT give you tenant rights.
Absent that... you likely have no rights.

Can they have us removed for trespassing?

If you have the permission of the valid tenant... unlikely, but they can likely exercise abandon and evict.