Eviction due to lease non renewal in LA county

[Tammy Skeath]

Hello BP members,

I’m having a nightmare situation with two tenants in Long Beach CA. Both have been given non renewal notices and are due to move out at the end of this month both are saying they can’t find another rental and want to stay. That is not an option because both have been terrible tenants hence us giving them non renewal at the end of their 11 month lease. My property manager says we will have to evict them for not vacating the unit once the moratorium expires on June 30th. Does anyone have any further advice on how I can get them out sooner? Besides cash for keys because I’ve already dumped too much money into these guys.  One of the tenants is already behind two months in rent and I’m realizing why being a small landlord in LA sucks so bad. We own in Florida as well and have no such issues there:( I should mention neither has been affected by Covid. 

Is the eviction process for non renewal squatting any easier than a non payment eviction? 

Appreciate any insight from local investors!  

[Nathan Gesner]

Your PM should give them a simple notice that their lease WILL terminate on the aforementioned date. If they refuse to move out, they will become holdover tenants and the eviction process should start immediately. If the court refuses to process an eviction, file anyway and wait your turn. The renters will get spooked and move out, they will pay rent until you kick them out, or they will pay nothing until you kick them out. No matter how they behave, you should stick to the process.

I don't know how you handle it in the People's Republik of Kalifornia, but I have a holdover rate that is equal to four times the rent, prorated per day. If rent is $1,500 a month, the daily rate for a holdover tenant is $200. It gets very expensive and they are sent daily notice every time a charge is added. That puts pressure on most ordinary people. Some tenants won't care or will just laugh knowing how much they are stealing from you.

Don't take it personally and don't get emotionally involved. It's just business. Follow your process until it's over, don't negotiate or give an inch.