Rental Property Damage

According to CAL FIRE there were at least 21 wildfires occurring at the same time across the state of California. In total, 245,000 acres of land burned forcing over 100,000 Californians to evacuate their homes. Over 8,900 buildings burned, and these numbers continue to rise. Also rising is the death toll which now is at least 43 lives lost.

Rental Property Damage

All of our initial consultations are 100% FREE & Confidential. Fill out this form to request a FREE Consultation.

By submitting this form, you consent to being contacted by The Wildfire Lawyers via phone, text, or email.

Rental Properties

Many houses, rental properties, and vehicles were lost in the wildfires. The Sacramento Bee reported that an estimated 5 percent of the housing stock in Santa Rosa was completely wiped out because of the wildfires. More homes that lay outside the city were also destroyed as Santa Rosa continues to be one of the most hard hit areas during this latest round of wildfires.

While rebuilding efforts are starting to take place around California, the concern is that no one is sure where the displaced families caused by the wildfires will live.

The Sacramento Bee recently published a story that details the rising rent prices in California, especially the North Bay area. It said:

“Rents have skyrocketed across the region in recent years as the vacancy rate hovers around 1 percent and home prices soar. Residents are spending 30 to 50 percent of their income or more on housing. State and federal resources are stretched thing, like floods, fires and hurricanes have gripped the nation and California confronts an unprecedented, statewide housing crisis. Meanwhile, many whose homes burned are finding their insurance policies won’t cover the cost of rebuilding. Others lack home or renter’s insurance altogether. Some say the task of rebuilding could be more difficult because of an ongoing construction worker shortage.”

The kind of impact all of this will have is detrimental to homeowners, and even more so to Californians who own rental properties or investment properties. The tenants in these rental properties aren’t excluded, and the owners of the rental properties have to be aware of the responsibility they owe to their tenants.

The same thing applies to the tenants in these rental properties. The information that is available to renters and rental property owners who have seen their property destroyed by the California wildfires is scarce, so the Sargent Law Firm is here to help.

Renters in California are looking for their landlords or property managers for all the information on where they can live while their home was damaged or lost in the California wildfires. On the other side of the coin, landlords, property owners/managers, and investors have a lot of questions that need to be answered.

Know Your Rights as a Rental Property Owner - CALL TODAY!

FREE CONSULTATION

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY IS DAMAGED BY FIRE?

In California, rental property owners and managers have been obligated by the government to uphold the Implied Warranty of Habitability to all of their renters and tenants. According to Cal.Civ.Code § 1941: “A rental unit must be fit to live in; that is, it must be habitable.” This means that the rental property must have adequate and reasonable living conditions for human beings, and the property is up to code as warranted by the state of California.

As a renter, your rights to an implied warranty of habitability is the most common when you are looking for protection and trying to get placed in temporary housing. In California, if a tenant has to relocate on a temporary basis for required maintenance or repairs, you are not required to pay rent to your landlord during the time you are unable to live in the property they rent.

However, if the rental property is a total loss, as is the case in Napa and Sonoma counties due to the wildfires, the California Department of Real Estate says that a rental lease will be terminated, and the landlord isn’t required to provide temporary housing, and the tenant can stop paying their rent.

Additionally, your rental property is only partially destroyed, and the damage is not the fault of the tenant, your tenant may terminate the lease with written notice to you as the landlord if the majority of the property is lost or the portion necessary for the use by the tenant is severely damaged.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A RENTER?

If your home or apartment that you are renting is destroyed by the wildfire, you landlord and/or property manager should have gone over your rights with you and provided any available information regarding repairs, relocation, or the termination of your lease.

If you have a renter’s insurance policy in California, your policy may help cover the costs of your belongings. The American Red Cross, FEMA, and several non-profits have set up relief and recovery stations in the communities for you to help you find resources.

If you’ve suffered permanent displacement because of the total loss of the house or apartment you were renting, your options should be finding a new place to live. A recent story by The Mercury News, stated that rental prices in Santa Rosa have almost tripled on Craigslist. They also reported that in Sonoma County, local officials are promoting Shared Housing and Resource Exchange programs, or SHARE, which was originally designed for homeowners over the age of 60, although it can be used by anyone who has extra space in their home or rental properties.

This program lets the homeowner post open rooms and may help you get paired with a landlord by entering into a lease agreement or trading some specific services you can provide as a renter, such as cooking, and commuting the property owner to work or appointments.

Renters, investors, landlords, and property manages in the areas hit hard by the California wildfires are advised to look for legal assistance in California to obtain more information regarding the many issues some renters face.

We Have Experience Litigating Rental Property Damage Due to Wildfire

CALL ATTORNEY RYAN SARGENT TODAY

The Sargent Law Firm has a team of attorneys and dedicated staff who have litigated fire damage in the past and can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve if your rental or investment property has been damaged or lost due to the California wildfires. Your consultation is free and there is no obligation.

Free Case Review

All of our initial consultations are 100% FREE & Confidential. Fill out this form to request a FREE Consultation.

By submitting this form, you consent to being contacted by The Wildfire Lawyers via phone, text, or email. 888.501.6083