San Diego landlords say eviction process is broken as tenants stay without paying rent

Give government a role in any matter, and it will turn into a disaster.  Failed schools, energy, water, housing, roads, drugs—you get the point.  San Diego has school districts that LIE about bond measures.  Now we find San Diego has created a disaster in the housing market.  Literally, it created rules that allow tenants NOT to pay rent—but force property owners to pay property tax and maintain the facilities.

“That’s the reality for many small landlords across San Diego County, who say the state’s overloaded eviction system is costing them tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention time, stress, and in some cases, their financial security.

“We lost $22,000 and just wanted them out.”

In El Cajon, Dana Logsdon says his tenants stopped paying rent last September after living in the home for over a decade. What followed was six months of non-payment and vague promises.

“I would request, ‘When can we expect a payment?’ and they’d say, ‘We don’t know, we’re working on it,'” said Logsdon.

Faced with a slow-moving court process and increasing legal fees, Logsdon made a difficult decision. His attorney offered to forgive the $22,000 in unpaid rent if the tenants would simply leave.”

Why would any sane person invest in rental housing in San Diego—or California under these circumstances?  Could this be why families are fleeing California, leaving behind the very rich, the very poor, the illegal aliens and the deadbeats?

San Diego landlords say eviction process is broken as tenants stay without paying rent

No rent, no relief—and no end in sight. Small landlords say they’re drowning in debt as tenants stay for months without paying.

Brian White, CBS8,  5/27/25    https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/san-diego-eviction-gridlock-as-tenants-stay-without-paying-rent/509-c5738322-5499-419a-8204-6f54fe3302f6

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif — What happens when a tenant stops paying rent, but the legal system prevents the landlord from evicting them for months?

That’s the reality for many small landlords across San Diego County, who say the state’s overloaded eviction system is costing them tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention time, stress, and in some cases, their financial security.

“We lost $22,000 and just wanted them out.”

In El Cajon, Dana Logsdon says his tenants stopped paying rent last September after living in the home for over a decade. What followed was six months of non-payment and vague promises.

“I would request, ‘When can we expect a payment?’ and they’d say, ‘We don’t know, we’re working on it,'” said Logsdon.

Faced with a slow-moving court process and increasing legal fees, Logsdon made a difficult decision. His attorney offered to forgive the $22,000 in unpaid rent if the tenants would simply leave.

“He negotiated and said, ‘Look, if you guys leave now, we’re going to forgive it, but they could have dragged it out another six months,” Logsdon said.

The tenants finally vacated the home in April. Now, Logsdon is focused on remodeling the interior and moving on.

Nearly a year with no rent—and no relief

In Mission Valley, Trent Ralston is still in the thick of it. His tenant stopped paying rent after the first month nearly a year ago. Since then, Ralston says the unpaid rent has piled up to over $30,000.

“The wedding plans had to stop, the Pop Warner leagues and all the other plans had to stop because the financial burden got really high,” he said. “We had to refinance the house just to afford this.”

Even after a judge ruled in his favor, it took months for the proper documents to be made available from the court. Ralston says he’s now been waiting weeks for the Sheriff’s Department to carry out the lockout.

“I’ve got my lock in the car ready to go,” he said. “So as soon as I get that call, I’m ready.”

Legal process stretched thin

According to eviction attorney Seth Barron with Landlord Solutions San Diego, these stories are not uncommon. He says San Diego’s eviction courts are overwhelmed.

“There’s one judge to hear 9,000 cases a year,” Barron explained. “That’s put an immense burden on the court, who’s trying their hardest, but it’s simply understaffed.”

He adds that what used to be a relatively straightforward process now drags on due to a lack of court staffing and funding.

Tenant rights remain critical

But tenant advocates say the delays serve an important role: protecting renters from unlawful or retaliatory evictions. Rafael Bautista, director of the San Diego Tenants Union, says tenants need time to defend themselves, especially in cases where rent is being withheld due to property neglect.

“There’s all kinds of reasons why a tenant might withhold rent,” Bautista said. “They want to make sure they’re protected by the law when they do that. It’s very important to know what your rights are and how to exercise those rights.”

He emphasizes that tenants must maintain proper records and documentation when withholding rent for a legal reason.

As San Diego’s housing crisis deepens, small landlords like Ralston and Logsdon say they feel trapped in a system that offers little support. And while tenant protections remain crucial, the growing backlog of cases may signal a system in need of serious reform.