My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California
After a few months of searching I end up settling on a house in town. My application is accepted, and a one-year lease is signed on June 4th. The lease states payment shall start from July 1st 2010 to June 30th 2011. The agent at the desk tells me not to move in until after June 8th, because they need to install locks on the security door, and that I will be credited for that time. I had received the keys on June 4th, and on June 8th I go to see that the locks have been installed... they are not. I call, and am told that they will be installed on the 12th. Again, the locks are not installed, and this repeats about 5 times over the course of the month. Finally on June 23rd the locks were installed, but now they're telling me that I will need to pay for this month. I have not begun to move into the house at all. Their argument is that I had the keys, so I have to pay for that month. Will their argument hold up in court?
As of today there are no locks on the windows, and no dead-bolts on any doors. In fact, the ONLY locks in the house were regular door knob locks until the security door was fixed yesterday. The area of town is not exactly safe, and I would certainly worry about all of that.
P.S. I am dealing with a rental company.

