California E&S Insurance

California - Landlord refusing tenant access after fire and serving 10-day eviction notice simultaneously `Location: California` Hey everyone! Looking for help on a few things here - as this situations seems to get more complicated every day. Long story short, my girlfriend's family's home caught on fire on Dec 24th in **Chula Vista (San Diego) (California)** and they're no longer able to occupy it due to damage / smoke. Since then, the landlords of the property have refused to let them back in for their belongings, refused to answer any phone calls/messages/etc. from anyone besides their own insurance agent (so they won't answer the insurance of the family or the fire investigators / city, etc). and now today, [they left this printed note page on the door of the property.](https://imgur.com/a/KoAXyu8) I'm mostly writing this on behalf of my girlfriend, as her family occupied the home, however, I've been involved including being there the night the fire happened. My girlfriend wrote this email out in a request for help regarding legal services which almost completely explains the entire situation and circumstances: >**Tenancy Background** >We have been tenants at this property for approximately 12 years. During that time, we have been good tenants: rent has always been paid on time, we have had no issues with neighbors, and we keep to ourselves. The property consists of a stand-alone 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, owned by our landlords. Behind our home is another 3-bedroom, 2-bath unit, which is connected to a studio unit. All units are owned by the same landlords. >**Fire Displacement & Denial of Access** >On December 24, 2025, a fire occurred at the property, originating in one room of the home. Since that date, we have been displaced and denied access to retrieve our belongings from the unaffected areas of the house. >The home is not red-tagged or sealed by the city. >Our insurance adjuster confirmed we are allowed to enter the home, provided we do not enter the room where the fire originated. >We fully agreed to this limitation. >We coordinated access through the landlords’ public adjuster, Trisha, to retrieve essential belongings, including family members’ ashes and daily necessities. However: >The public adjuster did not appear for the scheduled entry and did not respond to calls. >We contacted non-emergency law enforcement to witness a limited, compliant entry. >Despite this, the landlords refused us access unless we signed a waiver releasing them from liability for injury or property damage. >Both our insurance adjuster, Branden with Lemonade and Martin, a ServPro representative advised us not to sign the waiver, stating this is not standard or appropriate. Because we refused to sign, we were again denied entry. >We have now been without access to our belongings since 12/24/25, with no clear timeline for retrieval. Landlord and their insurance has not been responsive to our insurance company’s communications. We believe they are intentionally stalling communications to prevent us from retrieving our items as well as cause us to deplete our insurance coverage.  >**Withholding of Personal Property** >The landlords are currently preventing us from accessing: >Family members’ cremated remains (ashes) >Clothing, medications, and basic daily necessities >Family heirlooms and other valuables  >We believe this withholding of personal property is unreasonable and unlawful. >**Improper Utility Billing** >We recently discovered that we have been paying for the electricity of a neighboring studio unit for much or all of our 12-year tenancy. >There are three residential units on the property (our home, the rear 3-bed/2-bath unit, and a studio). >There are only two electrical meters on the property. >Based on this configuration, our meter appears to be supplying electricity to the studio unit, meaning we have been paying for another unit’s power without our knowledge or consent. >**Harassment / Interference With Quiet Enjoyment** >Over the years, the landlords have: >Shown up at the property without notice >Disturbed our peace on multiple occasions >Threatened to issue a 30-day notice when we declined to sign an addendum that would: >Reduce or eliminate our backyard usage so the landlords could store their personal belongings >Remove or restrict our normal driveway use in order to give it to other units on the property >We believe these actions constitute harassment and interference with our right to quiet enjoyment. The landlords threat to issue a 30-day notice when we declined to sign the addendum reducing our yard is invalid and any termination would require at least 60 days’ notice, making this threat improper and potentially retaliatory.  >**Legal Help Requested** >We are seeking legal assistance to determine our rights and potential remedies regarding: >Denial of access to our rented home and personal property after a fire >Withholding of human remains and essential belongings >Constructive eviction and unlawful exclusion >Improper utility billing and reimbursement >Landlord harassment and threats of termination >Possible injunctive relief to regain supervised access >Possible Temporary Restraining Order due to landlord becoming aggressive as well as causing substantial emotional distress What isn't written in this email is that the cameras outside the property power cables were cut about a week or two after the fire happened. The family was worried someone was planning a break in, so they texted the landlord telling them this and their response was, "We didn't authorize you to have cameras." The other thing that's not mentioned is that we have footage of the landlord on the property that morning of the fire specifically investigating the electrical meters. **So, the advice I'm currently looking for is is:** 1. Should they seek for an attorney? And what type exactly would be most beneficial for this situation if so? 2. Would getting an attorney extend or cancel the 10 day notice / would they be able to if there were negations being made between them? Any and all advice is beyond appreciated. Thank you!

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