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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 10Ch. 5Art. 1§ 10501 Lease Default Enforcement Rights

§ 10501 Lease Default Enforcement Rights

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 10501 Lease Default Enforcement Rights

This law explains how a lease default is determined and what rights and options the party wanting to enforce the lease has.

Key Takeaways

  • •Default under a lease is decided by the lease terms and this law.
  • •The party seeking enforcement can use court actions, self‑help, or other procedures to enforce the lease.
  • •These enforcement rights work together unless the lease or other law says otherwise.

Example

A landlord discovers the tenant hasn't paid rent for three months and wants to enforce the lease.

Because the tenant is in default, the landlord can use the rights in this division to enforce the lease, such as filing for eviction or using self‑help measures, as long as the lease agreement allows it.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10501 Lease Default Enforcement Rights

(a) Whether the lessor or the lessee is in default under a lease contract is determined by the lease agreement and this division. (b) If the lessor or the lessee is in default under the lease contract, the party seeking enforcement has rights and remedies as provided in this division and, except as limited by this division, as provided in the lease agreement. (c) If the lessor or the lessee is in default under the lease contract, the party seeking enforcement may reduce the party’s claim to judgment, or otherwise enforce the lease contract by self-help or any available judicial procedure or nonjudicial procedure, including administrative proceeding, arbitration, or the like, in accordance with this division. (d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) of Section 1305 or this division or the lease agreement, the rights and remedies referred to in subdivisions (b) and (c) are cumulative. (e) If the lease agreement covers both real property and goods, the party seeking enforcement may proceed under this chapter as to the goods, or under other applicable law as to both the real property and the goods in accordance with that party’s rights and remedies in respect of the real property, in which case this chapter does not apply. (Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 254, Sec. 66. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

lessorlesseedefaultlease contractrights and remediesenforcement

Related Statutes

  • § 10502 Lease Default Notice Waiver
  • § 10503 Lease Default Remedies
  • § 10506 Lease Default Action Deadlines
  • § 10522 Lessee Recovery Of Goods
  • § 10525 Lessor Rights After Lessee Default

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 10501.
View Official Source