If a person other than the tenant wants access to a unit, what documents do they need to obtain?

dperry

We have a new situation. We have a tenant who went into lien for nonpayment. Auction was the next step. A relative stepped up and paid what was owed and will be paying the rent as to not lose the contents (family stuff). This relative is NOT on the agreement and wants access to unit which she was told no (because she is not on the agreement). She said she'll get an attorney to see what her rights are.
The tenant is living, apparently not able to or unwilling to sign allowing her access.
What paperwork does she have to obtain in order to access the unit? We are in California.

MamaDuke7

If they get the key and the gate code from the tenant, they don't need me for access!  Nothing needs to be signed and I don't need to know about it.

If they want to go over the head of the tenant, that will take a court order.

themage

I don't know California specifically, but the agreement is between you and the tenant who signed the agreement. Only that tenant or a court order should be able to grant someone else access (barring an emergency that requires management to enter the unit, or auction).

dperry

From what we understand, she and the tenant are not on speaking terms. No, she doesn't have code or key. She, at one time had been authorized to access the unit but tenant revoked it.  She wanted to know if tenant were to sign something from her attorney if that would suffice her access. My experience is that the tenant has always been here in the office so we can witness the agreement and that is what I explained to her.  So now we play the waiting game.