What Is This Notice to Quit Used for?
30-Day Notice Quit (blank draft provided at the end) is used in California by a landlord to initiate the formal process of removing a tenant from a leased rental unit where the tenant has had a residency for less than a year and is on a month-to-month lease. If they have lived there for more than one year, a 60-Day Notice to Quit must be used instead. This is somewhat rare in California since most landlords prefer to start with a one-year lease and allow the tenant to become month-to-month after the lease ends.
It's important to note this Notice is not used for Covid related tenancy issues. If you think you may be subject to Covid-era rules about your dispute or are unsure of what to do on your own, you should contact a local attorney to get legal advice.
When Should a Landlord Use a 30-Day Notice to Quit
The state has outlined five eviction notices to use in various situations. As outlined on that page, the 30-Day Notice to Quit is reserved for instances where you want a month-to-month tenant who has been at the property for less than a year to leave. This new form and requirement was initially codified in 2019 with the Tenant Protection Act, even though it is similar to the older 15-Day Notice to Quit, which is no longer used for new disputes.
This 30-Day Notice can only be used when the tenant has lived at the property for less than one year. If they have lived there for more than one year, a 60-Day Notice to Quit must be used instead.
It's also important to note that various cities in California have their own, more restrictive landlord-tenant laws which govern these disputes. For example, San Francisco requires several additional forms, filings, and waiting periods when the 30-Day Notice to Quit is used, and a landlord may be unable to evict a tenant using this notice at all. These requirements vary city by city, and if you are located in a large city that has strict rent control laws, your best bet is to contact a local attorney who can guide you through the process.