Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: lease agreement

People other than the real owners make valid leases all the time, in their capacities as managers, agents, etc. We also have lessees making valid subleases. It becomes illegal when the person making the supposed "lease" has neither a right of possession nor authority from the person with right of possession (as the owner, trustee, executor, a lessee, etc.). The practice of taking rents from another without any right or authority is a form of rent skimming, and is illegal, sometimes only civilly, sometimes both civilly and criminally.