Arresting Development
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In your June 8 “Rent Watch” column, there was a question from a landlord who had a tenant in her home who did not vacate after a 30-day notice.
She could have gone through the entire eviction procedure, as the columnist recommended, but that is definitely the long way. The person asking for advice was looking for the fastest way to get this person out of her home.
I would have referred him or her to Civil Code 1946.5, which provides for removal of the tenant pursuant to Section 602.3 of the Penal Code.
This means that an owner in an owner-occupied dwelling may have the tenant removed by the police on day 31, without having to go through the entire eviction procedure, by making a citizen’s arrest.
In my experience, you need to make the police aware of this law and should go down to the station to talk to them before calling them to your property.
MARTIN COOSE
Long Beach
The writer is an attorney.
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