[CA] Landlord filed unlawful detainer against me, but property records and texts suggest she may not have been the owner/actual landlord

Location: California (Los Angeles County / La Mirada)

— landlord/tenant / unlawful detainer issue

I’m trying to understand my legal options after an unlawful detainer was filed against me, and I have documents/screenshots that appear to contradict parts of the complaint.

Facts (short version)

- I rented at a house in La Mirada, CA.

- I paid rent in cash directly to claimed to be owner to (total was about $17,969 over time).

- An unlawful detainer (UD) was filed against me

- I was also locked out / rekeyed and not given a key at one point.

- I have evidence of habitability issues (water leaks, electrical/stove issues, broken glass hazard, etc.) and ongoing harassment / entries without proper notice.

Why I think the complaint may contain false or inconsistent information

From the UD paperwork and my own records/screenshots:

1. Lockout / harassment / withheld access- I was allegedly locked out (rekeyed, no key provided).- There were also issues involving withheld access to parts of the home/amenities and repeated stress/harassment.

My questions

1. In California, if a person files a UD and there are material false statements (for example about tenancy date, rental agreement facts, or authority to file), what remedies or claims should I be looking into?
2. If the person collecting rent may not have been the actual owner (or may not have properly disclosed their authority), does that affect the validity of the tenancy/UD or create separate claims?
3. Does an alleged lockout/rekeying without a key create a separate claim even if a UD was filed?
4. For habitability + harassment + lockout + possible misrepresentation issues, what type of attorney should I be looking for (tenant attorney, civil litigator, both)?
5. What records should I prioritize getting next (county recorder records, title docs, trust docs, police/fire reports, etc.)?

Evidence I have (examples)

- Text message screenshots with claimed to be owner(Jan 2022) discussing rent start date and occupancy details

- UD complaint pages (UD-100 / UD-101) showing the allegations and claimed dates

- Property record screenshot (PropertyReach) showing ownership-related information

- Notes and documentation of habitability problems / lockout issues

I’m not asking for representation here — just trying to understand the best legal categories/next steps and what evidence matters most in California.