- An on-site manager must act within the law in executing an eviction.building image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
According to the California Code of Regulations, apartment complexes with 16 or more units are required to have an on-site manager. Sometimes this person is the owner of the property. In most cases, though, the on-site manager is someone hired by the property owner to take responsibility for managing the property and collecting rent, as well as eviction procedures and notices. - Acting on behalf of the property management company or property owner, on-site managers in California have the authority to issue three-day "pay or quit" notices and 30-day eviction notices to tenants who have violated the terms of their lease.
- In California, resident or on-site managers do not have the authority to order a tenant to vacate, even if the tenant refuses to comply with an eviction notice. Eviction orders can be issued only by a court.
- It is illegal for property managers and landlords to try to force a tenant to vacate by changing the locks on a rental unit, cutting off water, electricity or gas to the unit, removing windows or doors, or removing the tenants' belongings from the rental unit.
- The property owner or an on-site manager acting on his behalf may file an unlawful detainer lawsuit against a tenant in Superior Court. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, it will issue an order of eviction.
- On-site managers of rental properties in California are required to store a former tenant's belongings for up to 18 days after the tenant vacates the rental unit. After this time, the belongings can be given away or sold.
