In California: can a landlord cancel a both signed and paid rent + security deposit lease (house, legal)

[carol1981]

Hi

My fiancé have paid the security deposit and first month rent in full on 9/29/2018, and he has signed the contract on the same day + house key collected. The start date will be 10/1/2018 until 3/31/2018.

However the landlord text him the same day at midnight and said due to family relative issues, the room will be hosting their family, so they can’t rent out the room.

But my fiancé already inform his previous landlord that he is moving out on 10/1/2018, and the room is also taken for next tenant.

Now he has no place to live. And rushed to look for a room.

Is this legal for landlord to do this?
After both signed the contract and hand over the house key, they have no damage to loss, but my fiancé got ruined like that!

For them to breaching a binding contract, how to file claim for this.

Any help would be much appreciated
As I did done lots of research on the internet, but still didn’t got a clear answer for the same situation.

Thank you for your time reading our post and helping out.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by carol1981

Any help would be much appreciated

Don't confuse renting a room in someones home (and whatever those limited rights are)
with renting an actual house or apt by himself (and what those rights are).

Focus on getting the money he paid returned and finding another room for him to rent.