Quote Quoting A.Finch
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My question is, if they refused a timely offer of rent payment for my last month in residence specifically because they thought that would put them in a better position to evict me, can they then keep my security deposit in payment for rent for that same month that they had previously refused? Their refusal to accept rent my rent unambiguously framed to me as part of a threat of potential eviction. I am pretty convinced that it is unfair that they should be allowed that threat and then take the rent out of my security deposit anyway. I just don't know if the law agrees with me.
You won't know if the law agrees until you put the matter before a judge.

Based on your details I think you were done dirty and have a case for constructive eviction/wrongful eviction.

Can I guarantee it? Of course not.

The CA Court of Appeals has this to say about constructive eviction:

"... It is now well established that any disturbance of the tenant's possession by the landlord, or someone acting under his authority, which renders the premises unfit for occupancy for the purposes for which they were demised or which deprives the tenant of the beneficial enjoyment of the premises, causing him to abandon them, amounts to a constructive eviction, provided the tenant abandons the premises within a reasonable time."


http://scholar.google.com/scholar_ca...=en&as_sdt=4,5

Note the phrase that I have emphasized. I think it applies to your situation.