Free California Month-To-Month Residential Rental Agreement PDF Template

Updated on November 4, 2021

The California Month-to-Month Residential Rental Agreement is a legal document that governs the relationship between the landlord and the tenant.  The lease agreement can be canceled at any time by either party regarding the set rules.  Notice terminations are set on different durations depending on the tenant’s stay. The lease agreement is written following California state law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946 & § 827a).

Parties involved

  • The date the agreement is entered
  • The name of the tenant
  • The name and contact information of the landlord

Premises and occupants

  • The address of the premises
  • The name of the occupant as well as the number and names of minor children

Termination

The tenancy can be terminated by either party as long as the required notice duration has been adhered to. A 30 – day notice is given to tenants who have stayed for less than a year and a 60-day duration for those who have exceeded over a year.

Payments

  • The agreement comes with an attachment that indicates the rent amount, procedures, and policies regarding the same.
  • The agreement also comes with a Promissory Note for monthly loan payment amount and procedures when it comes to depositing. The deposit cannot be used as rent and can be used with reasons to do repairs for damages caused by the tenant upon vacating the premises.

The sections that follow touch briefly on the following sectors:

  • Utilities
  • Quiet enjoyment
  • Repairs and alterations
  • Acceptance of premises
  • Care, Cleaning, and Maintenance
  • Landlord’s access for inspection and emergencies
  • Prohibition on assignment and subletting
  • Possession of the premises
  • Damages to the premises
  • Tenants’ Financial Responsibility and Renters’ Insurance
  • Waterbed, pets, and smoke detector devices
  • Moving services
  • Addenda- the tenant should acknowledge receiving and reading copies of applicable addenda that comes with this lease agreement
  • Notice
  • Entire agreement
  • Grounds of termination of tenancy
  • Payment of attorney fees in a lawsuit
  • Authority to receive legal papers- the address of the manager. The landlord and the tenant should be duly filled here

The name of the landlord and the tenant as well as the date should be undersigned once both parties have agreed to the terms of the lease.

It is important to understand that the California Month-to-Month Residential Rental Agreement subjects the premises to be used only by the listed occupants and the minors only. It is limited to private use and any other use goes against the California state laws.

California Laws

  • Cal. Civ. Code § 1946 & § 827a

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a tenant refuse entry to landlord?

In California, the landlord has a right to entry given the right notices for the same. A tenant cannot unreasonably deny a landlord entry into the premises and the refusal can be used as a basis to evict the tenant.

What happens if a tenant refuses to pay rent and moves out?

A landlord can file for eviction if the tenant refuses to pay rent. They can also sue the tenant in the small claims court in a bid to collect the unpaid rental funds.

What happens when a tenant does not move after a lease lapse?

The landlord can file for eviction if the tenant does not move after the lease expires. In cases where the landlord had taken payment after the lease expired, the landlord should provide all normal notices as required by the law.