California Apartment Association

Abandonment – What do I do if I suspect a resident has abandoned the unit?

An owner must serve a Notice of Abandonment, indicating, among other things, that rent has been due and unpaid for 14 days or more and that after 15 or 18 days (depending on the type of service), the owner will take possession of the unit. The owner can leave the personal property on the premises or store the personal property in a place of safekeeping.