California landlords use this kind of notice if they are
contending that a tenant is violating terms in the lease or rental agreement
and the problem can be fixed.
Examples would include if the tenant has moved in a pet into
the unit without permission, is not keeping the unit clean, or is violating
some other term of the agreement, the notice must ask the tenant to correct the
violation within 3 days or move out.
However, there are specific requirements for a three-day
notice to perform covenant or quit. The notice must be in writing; must state
the full name of the tenant or tenants; must have the address of the rental
property; must state what the tenant did to violate the lease or rental
agreement, and contain a very particular statement as to the specific provision
in the lease or rental agreement that has been violated; must state that the
tenant has the chance to fix the problem or move out in 3 days; and must be
signed by the landlord or his or her agent and also state the date of the notice.
California tenants who have been served with a 3 day notice
to perform covenant or quit should review the notice carefully to determine if
the notice meets the requirements discussed in this blog post.
The law in California is clear that if the breach alleged is
nonperformance of conditions or covenants, the plaintiff must allege in the
complaint the particular conditions or covenants, neglect or failure to perform,
service of a 3-day notice requiring performance or possession, failure to
perform within 3 days, and continued possession. See Code of Civil Procedure
Section 1161(c)(3), see also McCarty v. Raso (1951) 102 Cal.App. 2d 909, 910.
And a trivial breach of a condition or covenant will not
support a termination, the tenant may raise substantial performance as an
equitable defense to a UD action. See Hignell v. Gebala (1949) 90 Cal
App. 2d 61, 65–66.
Attorneys or parties in California who wish to view a
collection of sample documents for use by tenants in California evictions sold
by the author can click below.
Attorneys or parties in California who wish to view all of
the sample legal documents for use in California and Federal Courts sold by the
author can click below.
The author of this blog post, Stan Burman, is a freelance
paralegal who has worked in California and Federal litigation since 1995.
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Copyright 2013 Stan Burman. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that the author of this blog post, Stan Burman
is NOT an attorney and as such is unable to provide any specific legal advice.
The author is NOT engaged in providing any legal, financial, or other
professional services, and any information contained in this blog post is NOT
intended to constitute legal advice.
These materials and information contained in this blog post have been prepared by Stan Burman for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information contained in this blog post is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, any business relationship between the author and any readers. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.