Eviction Notice

[Hugo Camberos]

Hello BP,

I've been following BP for information on how to obtain my first rental property and I couldn't be any closer. As a current tenant myself, I understand the nuisances that come from the property and sometimes the property management company.

Today I received a 3 day notice to pay rent or I will be evicted one. Turns out the past two months the property management company did not receive the rent. That had me confused since I sent the checks at the beginning of the month. Distraught, I looked at my bank account and sure enough the check have not been cashed. I hardly ever check for them to go through since a lot is being moved within the account. Then I got to thinking, why didn't I receive a late notice or a call of some sort in regards to the missed payments?? Two months have gone by (with late rent being on the 3rd) and I didn't receive any kind of notification other than this stinky letter today the 15th saying I have 3 days to pay the two months rent and soon to come next month. Receiving a call or letter, I would have corrected the issue. I've been sending the check to the same place, same way (mail, since its the only option they have) since January without any issues until this happened.

Back story - New property management company comes in beginning of this year. I've been in the apartment about 3 years now. Never have I had problems with property management before. We called for the property management company to come spray the property over summer since it was infested with bugs really bad. We called numerous times and we never received a call back for 2 weeks. I sent an angry email with my information of the unit and we received a nasty email stating we should cooperate with providing the adequate information, which I then replied with an image of my previous email highlighting the information he was requesting. That somehow did the work and we got a call from a pesticides company. I understand I may have been a bit rough with that first email, but I was frustrated with the lack of response from this new company.

Then this issue happens with the missed monthly payments from the same property supervisor we dealt before. I wonder if he didn't send the late rent notices because he may have been trying to get back at us? but that would be a cheap shot from him and a waste of his professional time. I have no problem paying what needs to be paid tomorrow and next month if I have to, working as an engineer has blessed me, so the money issue is not there.

My problem is, this management company really sucks and irresponsible so can they demand the rents like that without providing late rent notices/calls and if so do I (Tenant) have any options other than giving in and paying the whole amount? I understand I should have checked the payment to go through too, if not raise a flag and give them a call, but that would mean I'm doing the property manager's job and by  the way they answer their phone I'm sure we would be in this situation anyways. Either the post office lost the checks two months in a row or the managemnet company did. It just bugs me that there are irresponsible management companies out there and I'm sure learning what not to do as a soon to be property owner.

I'm located in Los Angeles County.

Any suggestions? BP..

Thanks,

Hugo