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California Business & Professions Code section 21700 (Self Storage Facility Act) provides that the
owner/landlord may deny use only after the following has occurred.
QUESTION:Anyone who has rented a storage unit in California might be interested in
this.
Apparently, some storage companies deny access to tenants who have not paid
their rent on time (sometimes late only by a few days). Often the company
will employ its own color coded locks and "Denied Access Tags". In short,
they use the "hammer" of denying access in order to compel payment. This is
not only unfair, it is completely illegal. California Business &
Professions Code section 21700 (Self Storage Facility Act) provides that the
owner/landlord may deny use only after the following has occurred. First, a
tenant must be 14 days (consecutively) late. Second, the storage owner must
provide notice that if an additional 14 days elapse, and the rent remains
unpaid, then use of the unit may be terminated. That's 28 days minimum
before a tenant may be denied access due to non-payment.
If any one has had this experience in California, particularly with U-Haul,
Public Storage or Storage USA, I'd like to hear about it.
ANSWER: Speaking from experience....sometimes a lock on the door is the only way
to get someone to actually come into the office to talk about their
payment. Access can usually be arranged but too many people suddenly
tend to stop answering their phone and door when bill time comes each
month.
Agreed, landlords should not be unreasonable...but then people should
pay their bills...and more to the point...at least not avoid talking
about payment when they are having trouble.
I worked in collections for a brief time and while there is not doubt
that some collection practices are unreasonable.....most of the time if
the client will at least have the backbone to answer their phone or door
and talk with landlords or creditors something can be worked out.
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