., although I could be mistaken on that. 

Code §§ 1950.5, 1954)  https://leginfo.legislature.ca...I'd also like to add that the moment she told you to leave, if I'm not mistaken, that she had to right to do so as the "person with lawful possession" of the property.

I could be mistaken.

. - you have mistakenly assumed that I have ignored the legal aspects of renting.  

This excerpt is from the South Carolina landlord tenant act:“If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement which has been signed and delivered to the tenant by the landlord, acceptance of possession and payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant”Unless I am mistaken, if this case was in South Carolina, her paying the new rent after you’ve delivered a signed lease would effectively bind her into the new lease, even if she didn’t return the lease signed.

My friend was seeking feedback because she is afraid it might be mistaken as a threat or offend the landlord if she shares this knowledge with her and the handyman, while intended for their own protection.....and by the responders above calling her "evil" accusing her of "narking" and "causing trouble for the landlord" and "pulling a stunt like this"....holy smokes, man.....I can see why she'd fear such a misunderstanding.   

In addition hobby landlords have a mistaken belief that the term of a lease in some way has a bering on when tenant will choose to leave.

I think people mistakenly believe if they are doing work for a friend that it is somehow different than a stranger.

Just because they mistakenly charged you and you mistakenly paid it doesn’t mean it’s their money to keep.

Whoever in the commercial business industry who came up with this idea and all the stupid CEOs that followed along are gravely mistaken.