@Chris Ahlemann If you can document the condition of the unit, your contacts with the landlord and their unlawful early entrance of the apartment then I would pursue filing a small claim.

You want to be in control if there's future issues and to avoid a costly Unlawful Detainer action - - you can give a 30-quit and be done with it.I favor a full CR and look at the 30,60,90 lates and the collections - - want ZERO within the last 6 months. 

The 3-day period begins the day after the notice was posted and mailed.)If the tenant doesn't pay, it's time to file an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit.For what it's worth, I realize California has a notoriously bad reputation for being tenant-friendly (and that may be more true in some parts of the state than others). 

As someone else mentioned, it's probably best to hire a lawyer to do it properly. it's fairly cheap compared to the fines for an unlawful eviction.You can still call animal control, though, and have them do a welfare check on the animals. 

Hi Chelsea, I get my list from a local provider that gets them by going directly to the county and looks up unlawful detainers in the recorded judgments.

speaking with my property manager and the attorney that we went through, I can evict them by filing an unlawful detainer.

I file "Pay or Quit" notice followed by an unlawful detainer petition in state court.

Do I have to go through that whole 3 - 6 month unlawful detainer legal process?

@Pedro Oliva Unless you'd also consider yourself a good prospect for a low cost, do-it-yourself brain surgery kit, pay an attorney to complete the U/D (unlawful detainer). 

Everyday we see examples here of lease clauses that are totally unlawful in every state.