California Landlord & Tenant Legal Help, Made Simple.
Lease problems, security deposits, property damage, and rental disputes can quickly become frustrating. DocDraft helps California landlords and tenants understand their options, prepare personalized legal documents, and take the next step toward a resolution.
- Straightforward guidance
- California-specific documents
- Attorney help available
- saved on legal fees
- $100M+
- documents created
- 50,000+
- customers served
- 23,000+
- saved per matter
- $1,200
Resolve rental issues with greater confidence.
Whether you own a rental property or live in one, you deserve a straightforward way to address legal issues without starting from scratch.
Understand your rights and responsibilities
Get help navigating the issues affecting your rental property or lease.
Prepare the documents you need
Draft personalized notices, agreements, and letters based on your situation.
Take action on your own terms
Work toward a resolution independently, with professional legal support available when needed.
What can we help you with?
Lease Agreements
Prepare residential lease documents and clarify the terms of a rental arrangement.
Lease Termination
Understand and document steps involved in ending a lease or rental relationship.
Security Deposit Disputes
Address withheld deposits, disputed deductions, and requests for repayment.
Repairs & Maintenance
Document repair requests, maintenance concerns, and related communications.
Property Damage
Address disagreements about damage, responsibility, and potential reimbursement.
Rent & Lease Violations
Prepare relevant notices and correspondence involving unpaid rent or alleged violations.
How it works
Describe your rental issue
Tell DocDraft whether you’re a landlord or tenant and explain what’s happening.
Prepare your legal documents
Get help drafting a letter, notice, agreement, or other relevant document based on your answers.
Work toward a resolution
Review your documents, communicate your position, and understand when additional legal help may be useful.
- Tell me what happened.
- The heater in my California rental has been broken for three weeks.
- Which California county is this in?
- Los Angeles County
- What would you like this document to do?
- A written repair request that lists my earlier messages.
- Repair request letterFirst draft ready to review
I am writing to request repair of the heater, which has not worked for three weeks despite my earlier messages.
Understanding landlord-tenant law in California
California law sets rights and responsibilities for residential landlords and tenants, and many cities add rent control or eviction rules of their own. Statewide, the Tenant Protection Act limits yearly rent increases for many rentals and generally requires a just cause to end a tenancy once a tenant has lived there for 12 months. Some housing is exempt.
For unpaid rent, a landlord generally must serve a written 3-day notice to pay rent or quit before filing an eviction case, called an unlawful detainer. The 3 days don't count Saturdays, Sundays, or judicial holidays.
In many situations, written communication and good documentation are important first steps.
Under California's security deposit law, a landlord generally must return the deposit, or send an itemized statement of deductions with any balance, within 21 days after the tenant moves out. For deposits collected since July 1, 2024, most landlords may take no more than one month's rent, with an exception for some small landlords.
The appropriate action depends on the lease, the property's location, and the facts of the dispute.
Bring your draft. Ask your questions.
Some questions call for more than paperwork. Explore document review and consultation options with a licensed attorney.
12. Security deposit. Landlord will refund the deposit, less deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear1, or an itemized statement of deductions with any remaining balance, within 21 days after Tenant vacates.
Does carpet wear from two years of normal living count as damage?
18. Default. If rent is late, Landlord may serve Tenant a written notice to pay rent or quit within three days2, not counting Saturdays, Sundays, or judicial holidays; if Tenant does not pay in full within that time, Landlord may file an unlawful detainer action.
If I get the notice on a Thursday, which day is my last day to pay?
Your questions, answered
Get your rental issue moving toward a resolution.
Start with your situation. DocDraft will help you organize the relevant details, prepare documents, and take the next step.
- Personalized documents
- Clear next steps
- Attorney support available
