How to Format a Letter to a Landlord in California

There are many reasons to write a letter to a landlord in California. You may need to contact your landlord because you require repairs, you are terminating your lease, you are withholding rent or you want to dispute damages. Voicing all of these concerns in writing will provide you with the documentation necessary if you need to pursue legal action. Regardless of the content of the letter, the format for a landlord in California is standard business formatting.

Things You'll Need

• Lease

Instructions

1. Type your name and address in the upper left portion of the document. You name, street address and city in California should each be on their own separate lines. Skip a line, then type the date.

2. Skip another line and then type your landlord's name and address, formatting it the same way you formatted your own address. Include the name of the real estate company, if applicable. Consult your lease for the official name and address of your landlord or rental company.

3. Skip another line and then type "Re:" followed by the subject of the letter. For instance, "Re: Defense against eviction." Skip another line and then type "Dear" your landlord's name and then a colon. Skip another line.

4. Write the body of your letter next. Be as specific as possible in this letter. Regardless of the subject matter of your letter, you should include the name of the property, how long you have been living there, when your lease is up and your lawyer's contact information, if applicable. If you are registering a complaint or lobbying for repairs, document any previous contact you had with your landlord about the repairs. If you are writing to terminate your lease, include the amount of your security deposit. If you are disputing an eviction notice, include the day that you received the eviction notice.

5. Skip a line after the body of the letter, then type your closing and your name, with five or six spaces between them, to allow room for your signature. Include your new address below your name, if applicable. Print the letter out and sign it.

Tips & Warnings

• Mail official correspondence to your landlord registered mail to retain proof that the letter was mailed and received.

References

• Find Law; Sample Documents: Letters to Landlord When You Leave
• Free Legal Document; Letter to Landlord, The Legal Route
• California Courts Self-Help Center; Write a Letter to Your Landlord Demanding the Return of Your Security Deposit