Local Agencies:
Santa Cruz Superior Court Self Help Center:
Provides help with Landlord/Tenant issues. The Self Help Center is located at 1 Second Street, Rm. 301 Watsonville, CA 95076 This is a drop-in service. No appointments. For more information about their services and to find the current hours of the Self Help Center visit http://www.santacruzcourt.org or call 831-786-7200.

California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA):
Provide various services including help with Tenant and Fair Housing issues. Eligibility requirements for services apply. For more information contact them at 458-1089 or 724-2253

Senior Citizens Legal Services:
Helps seniors with tenant rights issues. Eligibility requirements apply. For more information call 426-8824 or 728-4711

Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office:
Provides detailed information about Landlord/Tenant issues on their website http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/DAInternet/tenant.asp They also provide a 24 hr line with recorded information about Landlord/Tenant issues at 454-2128

Online Resources:
California Department of Consumer Affairs:
California Tenants - A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/catenant.pdf gives an overview of landlord/tenant law in California.
For possessions left behind in a rental unit the proper procedure for returning or disposing of those items can be found in these two legal guides:
For Landlords: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/lt-5.shtml
For Tenants: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/lt-4.shtml
Legal guide on rent increases: http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/lt-2.shtml

California Courts Self Help Center:
FAQs on the eviction/unlawful detainer process. Including special circumstances, such as Mobile Homes or RVs
General: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1047.htm
For Landlords: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1288.htm
For Tenants: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1289.htm

Forms:
To file the court process for an eviction - this is called an unlawful detainer - you will find the forms in both fillable and nonfillable formats online at http://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm To start the court process in Santa Cruz County you will need the following forms: CM-010, UD-100, SUM-130, and POS-010