Tenant wanting to pay-up after 3-day notice

[Jon Fed]

I am in CA. I served my tenant a 3-day notice and am quite sure he will not have the $$$ to pay in 3 days. My next step would be to get a lawyer and start the eviction process? Being in CA, I know this will take quite a while/months. In the mean time, if he comes up with the $$$, am I obligated to keep him in the house? If so, should I legally expect all late fees associated at the time he pays up? Thank you in advance.

[Michaela G.]

Unless you have officially evicted and received possession of the property by the Marshall, or if the tenant turned over the key, I would stay away from changing locks or taking over the property.

Personally, I've had to deal with a good number of evictions and I would be happy (well, not exactly happy) with a tenant that's voluntarily moving out, instead of making me go through the eviction.

I would call the tenant and ask if you can show it. I would probably not make a big deal out of the extra day in terms of extra rent. But then I have low-income tenants and when they become deadbeat, there's no money to collect anyway ;-)