Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

You're not supposed to re-enter or remain on the property after the sheriff has served you with a writ of possession. That's criminal trespass. Paying someone other than the landlord does not make it alright.

Hmmmm, I'm not sure the previous answer is totally correct. I doubt it's criminal trespass to remain on the property after eviction IF you have the property owner's permission, whether you received the permission directly from the owner or via someone acting in the capacity of an agent for the owner. However, even though you are not a trespasser (in my opinion), neither are you a tenant! You are perhaps a licensee, possibly a guest although the fact that you are paying something lessens this possibility. In either case, I believe you can be asked to leave at ANY time and must do so within a reasonable time thereafter or you'd become a trespasser. IMHO, the landlord does not need to go through an eviction process to remove you this time around. However, until asked to leave, you probably aren't committing criminal trespass.

Mr. Whipple just stated the most flawed hokey theory of agency that I have ever read. Once the principal evicted you with lawful process, you cannot rely on a theory of agency to claim that the agent was acting legitimately on behalf of the principal.

Of course it is criminal trespass, and don't kid yourself. It is a violation of Penal Code sections 419 and 602.