My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California
I'm a college student who came to rent a room in the house I'm still at via verbal agreement. After everything that I've read so far, I'm under a month-to-month tenancy, and I've been paying $425 a month. I moved here in January and I am on board to live in a new house starting May 1 - this time, with paperwork (lesson learned!).
Problem: My landlady was initially lenient at my announcement last week (Week of April 20th- April 26th) that I will be moving out. I did not know about the 30-days notice rule until she confronted me via phone this Sunday night with demands that, since I didn't give her a 30-days notice, I pay her my full $425 due May 1 if I had stayed.
Granted, I should have informed her about my plans to move. I didn't want to make announcements, however, as the paperwork for the residence that I will be moving into were not processed until mid-April (Week of April 13th-19). Basically, I didn't want to tell my landlady that I was moving out in March when I wasn't sure about the new residence. If I had known about the 30-days notice rule, then definitely things would have been different.
I'm willing to pay a penalty even if there's no agreement between us, written or oral. I'm not trying to get out of paying any dues, but I don't think her demands for a full month's rent are reasonable either. I don't want this to escalate into the courts because I don't have time and money to take that route.
What are my rights as a tenant? Again, no written lease; all verbal. I've been made to understand that the 30-day notice was a courtesy in this case, but I want to make sure. If she threatens to take me to court, will she have a case against me?
My rent's got me covered until April 30. I will be gone by May 1.
Thank you for your time. I don't like this feeling of being bullied (whether I am being bullied or not is the question) because of my ignorance about Landlord/Tenant Laws.

