Is subleasing flatly prohibited in the lease, or is it permitted with prior landlord approval? The latter would be pretty common, and would not...

I suggest that you also complain to the local code enforcement agency about the roaches and any other habitability/health and safety code issues....

From your description, it sounds like there was no signed lease in place - just an application. If the application had been unconditionally...

Tenants generally have no right to simply cancel an unexpired fixed-term lease, and owe damages (usually computed as per Civil Code Section 1951.2)...

Tenants generally have no right to simply cancel an unexpired fixed-term lease, and owe damages (usually computed as per Civil Code Section 1951.2)...

If it is an illegal unit, then any rental agreement is void, and the landlord can't lawfully demand rent, or evict for non-payment. Tenants of...

You may want to visit the SF Rent Board's website to get some idea about whether the unit would be subject to rent control and/or eviction control...

No. If this happens, report the landlord to the police. Civil remedies are also available, including under Civil Code Section 789.3.

The fact that the landlord didn't cash the check for some reason doesn't extinguish the debt. You can wait to see if the landlord contacts you,...

If access to the yard was included in your tenancy, then you may well have claims for violation of your quiet enjoyment rights and wrongful...