California landlords must conduct themselves in a specific way to avoid getting into legal trouble. Today, we will take a look at some of the top legal mistakes that landlords should be aware of. This way, they can avoid making them.
Many mistakes relate to treating tenants poorly or not being upfront with your information. Never forget to give out necessary disclosures. Additionally, do not ask your tenants questions that they (or others) could construe as discriminatory. You should not disregard a tenant’s right to privacy, either, no matter how justified you think it may be at the time. Likewise, you cannot keep security deposits unless you provide an itemized list of deductions for damage you fixed.
Always make good on your side of a leasing agreement. You cannot refuse repairs within a certain limit. You cannot fail to provide a safe environment. This can include making sure that your building is up to fire code safety and has a safe evacuation plan. You cannot ignore the rules of eviction, and you cannot improperly dispose of abandoned property. It is also important to have adequate insurance coverage. Failure to provide this for the sake of attempting to save money can backfire on you.
Committing any of these mistakes can lead to a serious legal headache for you. If you are curious to learn more about landlord tenant laws and disputes, consider visiting our web page. You can read more about the responsibilities that both parties hold. You can also read about some of the legal repercussions if they are not upheld.