Centinela West

The owners didn’t clean the carpets or kitchen, and didn’t do other repairs to the apartment after we signed the lease. They also claimed no pets were in the building at the showing, and said «No Pets» in the advertisement. When we heard barking, the owners admitted there were dogs living in the units above and next to our unit. After three days into the lease, they responded to our complaint calls. They offered, on the phone, to return our payments and let us out of the lease immediately.
We were surprised, but agreed to the offer. We turned the keys back in, having brought in carpet cleaners and scrubbed the place spotless. We had never moved in. However, they kept the $ 1250 security deposit, and blocked communication. Stiffed! It was a surprise because they seemed like nice, normal people before the lease started.
We sued them and won back $ 1300 in small claims. During the suit we found out the retired owner’s son (the manager) is a lawyer. The judge shook her head in dismay at them. Then they appealed to have the case re-​heard. They testified that they had never agreed to return our payments. The new judge said the owners were entitled to keep the $ 1250 when they presented a fake settlement letter as evidence. They apparently knew the rules for evidence were loose. The judge ruled they owed us $ 200 for court fees and for the carpet cleaning they had never reimbursed.
Their lease is not a standard one — lengthy and full of waivers of your rights. The clause requiring your signature that you understand you cannot sue them is misleading. Under California Law you cannot waive that right. You won’t find this kind of lease from an honest landlord, of which there are plenty in the neighborhood.