How long can a landlord keep an over payment?

Ask for the refund immediately. They have zero right to keep it for any period of time.

It sounds like the new owners are attempting to "re-tenant" the building so they can raise the rents. This is typical in Los Angeles, where...

What should I do if I think my landlord was fraudulent with my lease.

So long as YOUR lease has a one-year term, you are covered. Also, there is no such thing as a non-refundable deposit, FYI.

Can a landlord forbid a tenant from playing with a visiting dog/cat

Of course! Your landlord has no power to "forbid you from playing with a visiting dog/cat" any more than he can "forbid" you from putting marmalade...

You can sue the landlord for "bad faith retention" of your security deposit, and sue him for the security deposit plus 2x the amount of your...

What are the repercussions for breaking a rental agreement as a landlord?

Call the tenants and tell them the deal's off. The good thing about contract law is that the law allows you to break a contract as long as you are...

How to expose Co-Tenant's Airbnb without getting involved

What your roommate is doing is likely a violation of YOUR lease agreement, and can get YOU evicted. You'd better tell your roommate to...

How should I proceed after an unlawful detainer as the tenant?

I hope by now you have hired a LAWYER to assist you with your unlawful detainer, and it should be a lawyer who regularly does unlawful detainer...

Can I fight this lawsuit against my landlord?

Because you are not in a city that has rent control, your landlord may evict you for no reason--this is the law in most of California. However, the...

Complicated situation. Is the apartment rent-controlled? If so, then your "master tenant" is a landlord under municipal law, and you are a "tenant"...