Landlord entered apartment without notice — California

I came home from work yesterday and found that my landlord had been inside my apartment. Things were moved around on my kitchen counter, and when I checked my Ring doorbell footage, sure enough — he let himself in with a key at around 11 AM and was inside for about 20 minutes.

I never received any notice. No text, no email, no written notice on the door. Nothing. When I called him he said he was "just checking on a leak" but there's no leak in my unit and I never reported one.

I'm in San Diego, California. Is this legal? I feel completely violated. This isn't the first time I've suspected he came in without telling me but it's the first time I have video proof.

What your landlord did is a clear violation of California law. Under California Civil Code § 1954, a landlord may only enter a tenant's unit in limited circumstances:

• In an emergency
• To make necessary or agreed-upon repairs
• To show the unit to prospective tenants, buyers, or lenders
• When the tenant has abandoned the unit
• Pursuant to court order

For non-emergency entries, the landlord must provide reasonable written notice at least 24 hours in advance. The notice must state the date, approximate time, and purpose of entry. Entry is limited to normal business hours (generally 8 AM to 5 PM) unless the tenant consents otherwise.

"Checking on a leak" that was never reported and doesn't exist is not a valid basis for entry. Even if it were, he still failed to provide the required 24-hour written notice.

Your remedies include:

• Written demand — send a formal letter demanding he cease unauthorized entries
• Statutory damages — under § 1954(d), a landlord who violates the entry provisions may be liable for up to $2,000 per violation
• Lease termination — repeated violations can constitute a breach of the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment, allowing you to break the lease
• Restraining order — in extreme cases, you can seek a court order prohibiting unauthorized entry

I'd start with a written demand. We have templates at /Demand-Letters/Landlord-Tenant/ that cover this exact situation.

$2,000 per violation? Wow. I honestly don't even care about the money, I just want him to stop. But it's good to know the law has teeth here.

Should I also change my locks? I know some leases prohibit that but I genuinely don't feel safe knowing he can walk in whenever he wants.

Under California Civil Code § 1941.3, a tenant who is a victim of certain crimes can request a lock change. Outside of that specific statute, tenants generally may install additional security measures (like a deadbolt or chain lock) as long as they provide the landlord a key upon request.

However, since you have documented evidence of unauthorized entry, I'd recommend the following sequence:

1. Send the written demand letter citing § 1954 and the specific incident with date/time
2. State that you are installing an additional lock for security
3. Offer to provide a key for emergency access only, consistent with § 1954
4. Preserve the Ring doorbell footage — download and back it up

If he retaliates against you for asserting your rights (like raising rent or threatening eviction), that would be a separate violation under Civil Code § 1942.5 (anti-retaliation statute). Document everything in writing going forward.

I had the exact same thing happen in LA last year. Landlord kept coming in to "inspect" things. I sent a demand letter citing Section 1954 and CC'd a legal aid attorney. He never entered again without notice after that.

The key is putting it in writing. These landlords act like they own the airspace above your bed (I mean technically they own the building, but they leased you the right to exclusive possession). A formal letter reminding them of the law usually does the trick.

Property manager here. I want to say that what this landlord did is wrong, full stop. But I also want to give context: many small landlords genuinely don't know the notice requirements. They think owning the building means they can walk in whenever they want. It's not malicious, it's ignorant.

That doesn't excuse it. We train all of our staff on § 1954 requirements and we use a standardized 24-hour notice form every single time. It's just basic professionalism. Send the letter, educate him, and if he does it again, escalate.

Update: I sent a demand letter this morning via email and certified mail, citing the specific statute and including a screenshot from the Ring camera with the timestamp. I also installed a chain lock on the front door.

He texted me back (I'm saving everything) and said "I didn't think it was a big deal." I responded politely in writing that I expect 24-hour written notice for any future entry as required by law. We'll see how it goes. Thanks everyone for the help.