California landlord/tenant question

[Dag_Otto]

Posted for my wife, who writes:

As a landlord in Los Angeles, what are my responsibilities to my tenant for the expenses they incurred due to a flood in the home that is not covered by insurance because of the nature of the water flow into the house. The house stands downhill, so with my own money, I have installed new, bigger drains outside to handle the water coming down from the properties behind, I’ve had the wet drywall removed, area treated for mold and new dry wall installed. This ran me about $8000 out of my pocket. Now the tenant is sending me an invoice for her egyptian cotton towels that were ruined to sop up the water. An invoice for a tech person coming in to remove and then reinstall her home office (entertainment business, works out of the house), bill for the extra electricity used to dry out the house with industrial fans (understandable, I won’t quibble about that). I don’t want to call an attorney to find out my rights because it will probably e nd up costing the same. Does any one have any ideas or any web site that would explain my rights?

FWIW, she has ordered this book to learn more, but I’d appreciate any insight anyone has. I’m sort of inclined to see the towels as legitimate, since the tenant was trying to protect the property with them, but I’m not so sure about the tech person’s bill.

[FatBaldGuy]

IANAL, but generally speaking a landlord is not responsible for damage to the tenant’s property. That is what renters insurance is for.

[Duckster]

IANAL but isn’t the responsibility for tenant household goods belong to the tenant? If a tenant doesn’t have flood insurance it’s their tough luck and not the landlord’s.

[ouryL]

http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/

[Dag_Otto]

@ouryL

http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/

Perfect. Thanks, everyone.