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Mouse Feces and Deposit Refunds

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langtusj

Member
San Jose, CA.


I got a tenant moved out early this month. I had the house completely repainted/retiled when they moved in. When I inspected the property, there are mouse feces all over the kitchen. The house is all dirty. There is cracked tile in the kitchen as well. I just want to know if I'm able to deduct these from their deposits:

1) mouse infestation cost
2) cracked tile repair cost
3) cleaning the house cost
4) repainted any part of the house

Thanks in advance.

Stanley
 


seamus6654

Junior Member
Your tenants are allowed basic wear and tear. You probably won't get anything for repainting as that is included as basic wear and tear. Mouse infestation is tricky; typically they should have alerted you to the infestation problem and you may or may not have been liable to correct that problem. If they caused the infestation by unsanitary living conditions they are probably liable. CA has very clear laws on this do a search of landlord tenant laws in CA.
 

ENASNI

Senior Member
um

you need to take into account how long the tenant was in the dwelling.
Cleaning can always be charged for. Painting... no. Damages.. yes.


Mice... um.. depends on well ask this guy Walt

But usually the tenant gets mad at the Landlord if there is an infestation of any sort, even if they are the ones that caused it. :confused:

you sound like a newbie landlord.. get yourself together Dude... or Betty this is not personal this is Business...
This is a site that reads from the tenants side.. but gives most rules of the State and then get yourself a guide to how to be a landlord... but stay nice. :) Because thats what we are in California... nice... :)

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

langtusj

Member
mouse infestation

Thanks for all the replies. My tenants leased the house for one year. One month after they moved in, they told me that they found roaches in the house. My family stayed there for 5+ years and never had a roach inside the house. However, I went ahead and call Clark Pest Control to service the house for an entire year on my expense. They never informed me about the rat problem. They did have store a lot of junk stuff in the garage. Am I still in my right to make them pay for the mouse infestation? So painting aside, I could still charge them for cleaning the carpets, and repairing the cracked tile right?

Thanks.

Stanley
 

ENASNI

Senior Member
Tile damage yes. Carpet cleaning yes.. painting after one year?? yes usually!
Cleaning definitly.. make sure you send an itemized list and receipts within 21 days with the explanation of why you are witholding Security Deposit.

About the mice.. I still do not know, sorry Stanley

http://rhol.org/rental/WEAR.HTM
 

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